Transdermal delivery of Telmisartan through rat skin from formulation containing synthetic and natural penetration enhancer

Telmisartan, an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist, has shown promising effects when delivered through transdermal patches for effective hypertension management. This study aimed to develop a matrix-type transdermal therapeutic system for telmisartan using Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) and Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as polymers, with Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a synthetic penetration enhancer and a combination of piperine and menthol as natural enhancers. Comparative permeability studies were conducted to assess the effectiveness of these enhancers. Drug release rates were evaluated across rat skin using a Franz diffusion cell over 6 hours, measuring parameters such as percentage cumulative drug release (% CDR), apparent permeability (Papp), flux (J), and enhancement ratio (ER). The study found that patches containing natural enhancers (piperine and menthol) had a significantly higher drug release rate (up to 18.46 ± 0.02 % CDR) compared to those with synthetic enhancers (up to 10.19 ± 0.01 % CDR). This suggests that natural penetration enhancers could be more effective in promoting drug release. Transdermal drug delivery bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism, reduces side effects and gastrointestinal issues and improves patient compliance, making it a promising approach for enhancing drug delivery efficiency.