Knowledge, attitude, practice and satisfaction of patients using analgesic patches in Jordan

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) and satisfaction of Jordanian patients using analgesic patches. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in four urban centers in Jordan (Amman (capital), Irbid (northern Jordan), Zarqa (central Jordan), and Karak (southern of Jordan)) using a validated closed and open-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire was delivered by hand to a target sample of 250 patients. Results: A total of 178 patients were recruited with a response rate of 71.2 %. Only 40 % of patients had previously been prescribed or recommended to take analgesic patches by a physician or pharmacist. The overall proportion of patients who were aware of the correct use of patch was only of 31 %. Conclusion: The use of patches in Jordan is limited due to lack of patients’ knowledge about the proper use of patches. Further studies should be carried out to evaluate healthcare providers’ perceptions and knowledge towards the use of patches

Hydrogel-forming microneedle arrays: Potential for use in minimally-invasive lithium monitoring

AbstractWe describe, for the first time, hydrogel-forming microneedle (s) (MN) arrays for minimally-invasive extraction and quantification of lithium in vitro and in vivo. MN arrays, prepared from aqueous blends of hydrolysed poly(methyl-vinylether-co-maleic anhydride) and crosslinked by poly(ethyleneglycol), imbibed interstitial fluid (ISF) upon skin insertion. Such MN were always removed intact. In vitro, mean detected lithium concentrations showed no significant difference following 30min MN application to excised neonatal porcine skin for lithium citrate concentrations of 0.9 and 2mmol/l. However, after 1h application, the mean lithium concentrations extracted were significantly different, being appropriately concentration-dependent. In vivo, rats were orally dosed with lithium citrate equivalent to 15mg/kg and 30mg/kg lithium carbonate, respectively. MN arrays were applied 1h after dosing and removed 1h later. The two groups, having received different doses, showed no significant difference between lithium concentrations in serum or MN. However, the higher dosed rats demonstrated a lithium concentration extracted from MN arrays equivalent to a mean increase of 22.5% compared to rats which received the lower dose. Hydrogel-forming MN clearly have potential as a minimally-invasive tool for lithium monitoring in outpatient settings. We will now focus on correlation between serum and MN lithium concentrations

Polymeric microneedle systems for transdermal drug delivery

Delivery across skin offers many advantages compared to oral or parenteral routes e.g. non-invasive, avoiding first-past metabolism, improved bioavailability and reduction of systemic side effects. Microneedle (MN) are minimally-invasive devices that painlessly by-pass the skin's stratum corneum, which is the principal barrier to topically-applied drugs. Polymeric MN delivery systems were designed and evaluated to transdermally deliver two model drugs, the small water soluble drug ibuprofen sodium and the large protein ovalbumin (OVA). A range of hydrogel forming materials for MN production was evaluated to identify the most suitable super swelling hydrogel MN array that are hard in the dry state but, upon insertion into skin, rapidly take up interstitial fluid. The MN themselves contain no drug, but instead drug are loaded into lyophilized patches. Novel super swelling hydrogel forming MN arrays were fabricated from aqueous blends containing 20% w/w poly(methyl vinyl ether co maleic acid) (Gantrez® S97), 7.5% w/w poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and 3% sodium carbonate (Na2C03). In addition, dissolving MN arrays loaded with a high dose of non-potent therapeutic drug were fabricated from aqueous blends of 70% w/w Gantrez® AN139 (PH 7) and 30% ibuprofen sodium. Successful drug delivery was achieved in this research work using novel polymeric MN, super swelling hydrogel MN and dissolving MN. The in vitro studies has been shown first ever example of polymeric MN being loaded with a NSAIDs. The novel concept of super swelling hydrogel MN integrated with lyophilized patches loaded with ovalbumin was evaluated. They enabled the sustained delivery of the ibuprofen sodium and ovalbumin both in vitro and in vivo. Gamma sterilization can be done without compromising polymeric MN properties. Finally, hydrogel forming MN arrays can be successfully and reproducibly applied by human volunteers given appropriate instruction so the use of MN applicator devices may not be necessary, thus possibly enhancing patient compliance.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Beneath the Skin: A Review of Current Trends and Future Prospects of Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

The ideal drug delivery system has a bioavailability comparable to parenteral dosage forms but is as convenient and easy to use for the patient as oral solid dosage forms. In recent years, there has been increased interest in transdermal drug delivery (TDD) as a non-invasive delivery approach that is generally regarded as being easy to administer to more vulnerable age groups, such as paediatric and geriatric patients, while avoiding certain bioavailability concerns that arise from oral drug delivery due to poor absorbability and metabolism concerns. However, despite its many merits, TDD remains restricted to a select few drugs. The physiology of the skin poses a barrier against the feasible delivery of many drugs, limiting its applicability to only those drugs that possess physicochemical properties allowing them to be successfully delivered transdermally. Several techniques have been developed to enhance the transdermal permeability of drugs. Both chemical (e.g., thermal and mechanical) and passive (vesicle, nanoparticle, nanoemulsion, solid dispersion, and nanocrystal) techniques have been investigated to enhance the permeability of drug substances across the skin. Furthermore, hybrid approaches combining chemical penetration enhancement technologies with physical technologies are being intensively researched to improve the skin permeation of drug substances. This review aims to summarize recent trends in TDD approaches and discuss the merits and drawbacks of the various chemical, physical, and hybrid approaches currently being investigated for improving drug permeability across the skin

Transdermal drug delivery: Innovative pharmaceutical developments based on disruption of the barrier properties of the stratum corneum

The skin offers an accessible and convenient site for the administration of medications. To this end, the field of transdermal drug delivery, aimed at developing safe and efficacious means of delivering medications across the skin, has in the past and continues to garner much time and investment with the continuous advancement of new and innovative approaches. This review details the progress and current status of the transdermal drug delivery field and describes numerous pharmaceutical developments which have been employed to overcome limitations associated with skin delivery systems. Advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches are detailed, commercially marketed products are highlighted and particular attention is paid to the emerging field of microneedle technologies

Breaking boundaries: the advancements in transdermal delivery of antibiotics

AbstractTransdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) for antibiotics have seen significant advances in recent years that aimed to improve the efficacy and safety of these drugs. TDDS offer many advantages over other conventional delivery systems such as non-invasiveness, controlled-release pattern, avoidance of first-pass metabolism. The objective of this review is to provide an overview on the recent advances in the TDDS of different groups of antibiotics including β-lactams, tetracyclines, macrolides, and lincosamides, utilized for their effective delivery through the skin and to explore the challenges associated with this field. The majority of antibiotics do not have favorable properties for passive transdermal delivery. Thus, novel strategies have been employed to improve the delivery of antibiotics through the skin, such as the use of nanotechnology (nanoparticles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, vesicular carriers, and liposomes) or the physical enhancement techniques like microneedles and ultrasound. In conclusion, the transdermal delivery systems could be a promising method for delivering antibiotics that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and enhance the efficacy of drugs. Further research and development are still needed to explore the potential of delivering more antibiotic drugs by using various transdermal drug delivery approaches

Preparation and Characterization of Patch Loaded with Clarithromycin Nanovesicles for Transdermal Drug Delivery

Clarithromycin (CLR), categorized as a Biopharmaceutical Classification System class II drug, has several gastrointestinal tract side effects and an extremely unpalatable bitter taste. The current study aimed to design transdermal patch-embedded CLR niosomes to overcome the aforementioned CLR-related challenges. Various niosomal formulations were successfully fabricated and characterized for their morphology, size, in vitro release, and antimicrobial efficacy. Subsequently, the CLR niosomes were loaded into transdermal patches using the solvent casting method. The polydispersity index of the niosomes ranged from 0.005 to 0.360, indicating the uniformity of the niosomes. The encapsulating efficiency (EE)% varied from 12 to 86%. The optimal Chol: surfactant ratio for drug release was found to be 0.5:1. In addition, the encapsulation of CLR into niosomal nanovesicles did not reduce the antibacterial activity of the CLR. The niosomal patch had a significantly higher permeability coefficient of CLR than the conventional patch. In addition to that, a shear-thinning behavior was observed in the niosomal gels before loading them into a niosomal patch. The flux (Jss) of the niosomal patch was significantly higher than the conventional patch by more than 200 times. In conclusion, niosome-based transdermal patches could be a promising method for the transdermal drug delivery of class II drugs and drugs experiencing GIT side effects