Formulation and Evaluation of Transdermal Patch of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (Celecoxib)

The present study aimed to develop and evaluate Celecoxib-loaded transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) to overcome the limitations associated with oral administration of NSAIDs. Matrix-type transdermal patches were prepared using the solvent evaporation method with different polymeric combinations of HPMC E15, ethyl cellulose, and PVP K30. Preformulation studies revealed a melting point of 202–203°C, λmax at 234 nm, and excellent linearity (r² = 0.995). The calculated permeability coefficient and flux were found to be 4.4004 and 0.101 mg/cm²/hr, respectively, with a dose of 12.12 mg/10 cm²/12 hr. All formulations exhibited satisfactory physicochemical properties, including thickness (0.061–0.077 mm), drug content (89.16–95.04%), and folding endurance (99–125). In vitro diffusion studies showed a maximum drug release of 91.04% for formulation F1 over 12 hours, following the order F1 > F5 > F6 > F2 > F3 > F4. Release kinetics indicated non-Fickian diffusion with the optimized formulation best fitting the Higuchi model (r² = 0.9875). The study concludes that Celecoxib can be effectively formulated into transdermal patches to provide sustained drug release, improve bioavailability, and minimize systemic side effects.