Abstract
We have studied the effect of polarity, current density, current duration, crosslinking density, swelling ratio, and permeation enhancers on the transdermal flux of ketoprofen from acrylamide hydrogel. Hydrogel was prepared by free radical crosslinking polymerization of acrylamide. Drug loading was made just before transport experiment by soaking the hydrogel in solution containing drug. In vitro flux study using hairless mouse skin was performed at $36.5^{\circ}C$ using side-by-side diffusion cell, and the drug was analysed using HPLC/UV system. The result showed that, compared to passive flux, the total amount of drug transported increased about 18 folds by the application of $0.4\;mA/cm^2$ cathodal current. Anodal delivery with same current density also increased the total amount of drug transported about 13 folds. It seemed that the increase in flux was due to the electrorepulsion and the increase in passive permeability of the skin by the current application. Flux increased as current density, the duration of current application and loading amount (swelling duration) increased. As the cross linking density of the hydrogel increased, flux clearly decreased. The effect of hydrophilic enhancers (urea, N-methyl pyrrolidone, Tween 20) and some hydrophobic enhancers (propylene glycol monolaurate and isopropyl myristate) was minimal. However, about 3 folds increase in flux was observed when 5% oleic acid was used. Overall, these results provide some useful information on the design of an optimized iontophoretic delivery system of ketoprofen.