Preparation of Pharmaceutical Composition for Transdermal Therapeutic System Based on Hydroxyethyl Cellulose and Nanocellulose

Water-soluble cellulose ethers have become widespread in the creation of various pharmaceutical compositions. As excipients, they can act as a carrier (film-forming agent) in the production technology of transdermal therapeutic systems. Developments in the field of modifying the properties of polymer compositions based on water-soluble cellulose ethers by chemical methods, along with physical and biochemical methods, can open up new opportunities for drug delivery. One of the options for modifying the properties of such compositions is the inclusion of nano-sized components in their composition. The use of nanocellulose is proposed to obtain pharmaceutical compositions based on hydroxyethylcellulose for the transdermal method of drug delivery. Nanocellulose, obtained by high-intensity mechanical processing (homogenization), is included in the composition of newly developed transdermal therapeutic systems in the form of a suspension. Industrially available hydroxyethylcellulose and glycerin were used as excipients. The methodology for producing films based on them is shown. A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the properties of the films produced was made. The homogeneity and reproducibility of the thickness of the cast samples were determined. The values of covering power and hiding power were determined to predict film consumption and further regulate the amount of substance entering the bloodstream due to the pasted area. Using the method of physical and mechanical tests, the values of tensile strength and relative deformation were obtained for the entire series under study. Using electron microscopy, the patterns of structure changes depending on the ratio of components and concentration of nanocellulose were studied. Microphotographs were analyzed in the ImageJ software package designed for automated processing of particle size distribution parameters and estimation of their Ferret diameters. The patterns of the influence of glycerol on the distribution of hydroxyethylcellulose particles without nanocellulose and at different concentrations of nanocellulose (1.3 and 5 wt.%) were obtained.