Design of antihistaminic transdermal films based on alginate–chitosan polyelectrolyte complexes: characterization and permeation studies

The purpose of this study was to develop suitable matrix-type transdermal drug delivery systems of Ketotifen fumarate (KF) as antiasthmatic drugs. Chitosan–alginate polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films were used as drug release regulators for KF. Antihistaminic films with variable PEC compositions were prepared using different ratios of chitosan (CTS) to sodium alginate (ALG). Propylene glycol (PG) was used as plasticizer; Tween 80 (T80) and Span 20 (S20) were used as permeability enhancers. Nine formulations were obtained by film casting method and characterized in terms of weight uniformity, thickness, folding endurance, moisture lost, and moisture absorption. In addition, drug release and permeation through rat abdominal skin mounted in Franz cell were investigated. All formulations were found to be suitable in terms of physicochemical characteristics, and there was no significant interaction between the used drug and polymers. It was noticed that when T20 is used as permeation enhancer, a satisfactory drug release pattern was found where 99.88% of drug was released and an amount of 2.121 mg/cm2 of KF was permeated after 24 h. For the optimal formulation, a permeability coefficient of 14.00 ± 0.001 cm h−1 and a latency time of 0.35 ± 0.02 h were found. The in-vitro analysis showed controlled release profile which was fitted by Korsmeyer–Peppas model (R2 = 0.998). The obtained results suggested that new controlled release transdermal formulations of asthmatic drugs could be suitably designed as an alternative to the common forms.