Formulation and evaluation of clopidogrel bisulfate loaded transdermal patches for anti-platelet activity

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery is an alternative route for systemic drug delivery which minimizes the absorption and increases the bioavailability. Orally clopidogrel bisulfate has a short elimination half-life (7-8 h), low oral bioavailability (50 %) undergoes extensive first pass metabolism (85 %) and frequent high doses (75 mg) are required to maintain the therapeutic level as a result. The purpose of this research was formulation and evaluation of transdermal drug delivery system of clopidogrel bisulfate using various polymers such as HPMC and EC by solvent casting technique for improvement of bioavailability of drug and reducing toxic effects. The developed transdermal patches may increase the therapeutic efficacy and reduce toxic effect of clopidogrel bisulfate. The prepared transdermal drug delivery system of clopidogrel bisulfate using different polymers such as HPMC and EC had shown good & promising results for all the evaluated parameters. Based on the in vitro drug release, drug content, weight variation, tensile strength, thickness and folding endurance results formulation F2 was concluded as an optimized formulation which shows its higher percentage of drug release.