Effect of Additives on the Diffusion of Ketoprofen Through Human Skin

Abstract

The influence of Carbopol® polymer, types C-934P and C-940, and the penetration enhancer oleic acid on transdermal permeation of ketoprofen through a fullthickness human skin was investigated. Ketoprofen patches were fabricated; and permeation parameters such as the flux. permeability coeficient. enhancement ratio, lag time, and partition coefficients were determined. The results indicated a maximum flux of 7.778 μg/cm²/hrfrom the patches made with C-934P when the oleic acid concentration was 35%. The enhancement ratio was 22.8. The maximum flux value for patches made from C-940 was obtained with 10% oleic acid. The corresponding enhancement ratio was 34.25. The results indicated that the concentration of oleic acid needed for maximum flux depends upon the type of Carbopol polymer selected for the study. Further, ketoprofen transdermal drug delivery systems can be fabricated to obtain a zero-order release through human skin.