Biopolymer patches for the simultaneous incorporation of local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory drugs

Abstract

This study presents a novel type of biopolymer patches in which anti-inflammatory drugs and amide-type anesthetics were simultaneously incorporated. Since the biopolymer matrix is composed of k-carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and glycerol, as a plasticizer, the resulting patches have an elasticity and a “stickiness” that can be exploited in the field of transdermal delivery of drugs. Combinations of anesthetic and anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in twenty patches with a unique and distinct physical appearance. Furthermore, as indicated by FTIR, TG/DTG, and DSC analysis data, none of the active substances affects the integrity of the biopolymer matrix; instead, they influence the Tmelting of the patch matrix, either in its value increase or decrease.