Preparation of pressure sensitive adhesive and elastomeric films for transdermal drug delivery applications

In this thesis study, a transdermal drug delivery system was developed using new generation cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC) elastomer as the base polymer, which has not been investigated for its potential and performance in both pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) and transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). Cyclo-olefin copolymer (COC) is an FDA approved, biocompatible thermoplastic suitable for medical and food use. The thesis study consists of two parts: blending formulation and film development for the use of elastomer COC as PSA and investigation of drug release properties of these films. In the first step of the thesis study; PSA films with adhesion properties under room conditions were prepared by melt blending method by adding different types and ratios of tackifiers and plasticizers to COC elastomer. Morphological, adhesion, viscoelastic and thermal properties of the developed COC based pressure sensitive adhesive films were characterized depending on the composition. As a result of characterization studies, low Tg values, flexible and soft COC elastomer-based PSA films were obtained. The most important criterion for the prepared formulations to be used as PSA was determined by the tests performed on the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) device, where the elastic modulus value at room temperature met the Dahlquist criterion (0.3 MPa). In the second step of the thesis study; ibuprofen, a lipophilic molecule, was loaded into the optimized formulation by melt blending method and a single layer transdermal drug delivery system (DIA type transdermal patch) was prepared. The drug release properties of the prepared COC elastomer based transdermal films were performed in the Franz diffusion cell and the drug release rate and efficiency of TDDS were quantitatively determined by the analyzes performed with the UV spectrophotometer device. Various kinetic models (zero-order, first-order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas) were applied to experimental data obtained from drug release studies to investigate the drug release kinetics of TDDS. Since the correlation coefficients (R2) of the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas model equations were quite close to each other and higher than the other model equations, they were evaluated as suitable models for drug release data. According to the Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas model equations, it was determined that TDDS loaded with ibuprofen at different rates showed release behavior suitable for the Fickian diffusion-controlled release mechanism. In conclusion, with this thesis study, the formulation and production process information of DIA-type transdermal patches were developed by using a new generation polyolefin copolymer with a unique chemical structure and physical properties that can be an alternative to the polymers used as pressure-sensitive adhesives in TDDS.