Transdermal Patch: A Novel Approach for Transdermal Drug Delivery

A self-contained, covert, medicated adhesive patch known as a transdermal patch offers a practical mode of delivery for a range of skin and body problems. Multiple drug administration has several disadvantages including inconvenient administration, the risk of overdose, lack of patient compliance, and drug plasma level fluctuations. Transdermal medication delivery has emerged as a creative means of achieving systemic drug absorption at a predefined rate over an extended period. Its primary benefits are reduced dose frequency, avoiding first-pass metabolism by entering directly into the systemic circulation, suitability for elderly patients who cannot take pharmaceuticals orally, and ability to be self-administered with fewer adverse effects. This review covers general aspects like drug absorption pathways through the skin, the kinetics of drug absorption, different factors affecting the transdermal permeability, various types of transdermal patches, their components, and evaluation parameters. Additionally, some marketed transdermal patches and therapeutic applications of transdermal drug delivery systems have been discussed. Moreover, the article includes various generations of advancements in the transdermal drug delivery system and its future aspect. Keywords- Transdermal patch, Permeability, Polymer Matrix, Rate Controlling Membrane, Permeation Enhancers.