Optimization and Evaluation of Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride Transdermal Patches Using Natural and Synthetic Polymers for Psychosis Management
Abstract
Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride (TPH) is an anticholinergic drug commonly used to manage psychosis-associated extrapyramidal symptoms and Parkinsonian disorders. However, its oral administration is associated with limitations such as first-pass metabolism, fluctuating plasma drug levels, and frequent dosing requirements, which may reduce patient compliance. The present study aimed to develop and optimize TPH-loaded transdermal patches using a combination of natural and synthetic polymers for sustained drug delivery. Patches were prepared by the solvent-casting method employing varying concentrations of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), chitosan, xanthan gum, and gum tragacanth. A factorial design was utilized to optimize formulation variables and evaluate their effects on physicochemical and drug-release characteristics. The prepared patches were assessed for thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, moisture content, moisture uptake, tensile strength, surface pH, drug content uniformity, and in vitro drug release. The optimized formulation exhibited satisfactory physicochemical properties, uniform drug distribution, good mechanical strength, and excellent flexibility. In vitro studies demonstrated sustained and controlled drug release over an extended period. The combination of natural and synthetic polymers significantly influenced the mechanical properties and release behavior, resulting in an optimized matrix system with improved performance. The developed transdermal patch represents a promising alternative to conventional oral therapy by providing sustained drug delivery, potentially enhancing therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and overall quality of life in long-term psychopharmacological management.
Keywords: Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride, Transdermal patch, Natural polymers, Synthetic polymers, Controlled drug delivery, Optimization, Psychosis management.
Keywords:
Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride, Transdermal patch, Natural polymers, Synthetic polymers, Controlled drug delivery, Optimization, Psychosis managementDOI
https://doi.org/10.22270/jddt.v16i8.7916References
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed., Text Revision. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2022. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
2. World Health Organization. World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022.
3. Stahl SM. Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. 5th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108975292
4. Kane JM, Correll CU, Goff DC. Strategies for improving treatment adherence in schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2019; 80(2):18com12104. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.IN18031AH1C
5. Prausnitz MR, Langer R. Transdermal drug delivery. Nature Biotechnology. 2008; 26(11):1261-1268. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.1504 PMid:18997767 PMCid:PMC2700785
6. Brown MB, Martin GP, Jones SA, Akomeah FK. Dermal and transdermal drug delivery systems: Current and future prospects. Drug Delivery. 2006; 13(3):175-187. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717540500455975 PMid:16556569
7. Gupta R, Rai B, Jain NK. Recent advances in transdermal drug delivery systems. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. 2021; 68(1):32-40.
8. Keleb EI, Sharma RK, Mosa EB, Aljahwi AZ. Transdermal drug delivery system-design and evaluation. International Journal of Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2010; 1(3):201-211.
9. Jain S, Jain NK, Gupta YK. Advances in polymeric transdermal drug delivery systems. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2020; 55:101457.
10. Patel D, Chaudhary SA, Parmar B, Bhura N. Natural and synthetic polymers in drug delivery systems: A review. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2022; 13(4):1450-1462.
11. Dash S, Murthy PN, Nath L, Chowdhury P. Kinetic modeling on drug release from controlled drug delivery systems. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica. 2011; 67(3):217-223.
12. Sworn G. Xanthan gum. In: Phillips GO, Williams PA, editors. Handbook of Hydrocolloids. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing; 2009. p.186-203. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781845695873.186
13. Nayak AK, Pal D. Natural polysaccharides in drug delivery applications. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2015; 28:1-17.
14. Rinaudo M. Chitin and chitosan: Properties and applications. Progress in Polymer Science. 2006; 31(7):603-632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2006.06.001 PMCid:PMC11515978
15. Bhowmik D, Chiranjib B, Chandira M, Jayakar B. Recent advances in transdermal drug delivery system. International Journal of PharmTech Research. 2013; 5(2):251-260.
16. Rao PR, Diwan PV, Kumar V. Formulation and evaluation of transdermal patches of selected therapeutic agents using hydrophilic polymers. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation. 2018; 8(2):75-82.
17. Reddy KR, Mutalik S, Reddy S. Once-daily sustained-release matrix tablets of nicorandil: Formulation and in vitro evaluation. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2011; 4(4):E61. https://doi.org/10.1208/pt040461
PMid:15198556 PMCid:PMC2750654
18. Stahl SM. Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications. 5th ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108975292
19. Brunton LL, Hilal-Dandan R, Knollmann BC. Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. 13th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.
20. Sweetman SC. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. 40th ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2020.
21. Kane JM, Correll CU, Goff DC. Strategies for improving treatment adherence in schizophrenia. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2019; 80(2):18com12104. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.IN18031AH1C
22. Rao PR, Diwan PV, Kumar V. Formulation and evaluation of transdermal patches of selected therapeutic agents using hydrophilic polymers. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation. 2018; 8(2):75-82.
23. Patel D, Chaudhary SA, Parmar B, Bhura N. Transdermal drug delivery system: A review. The Pharma Innovation Journal. 2017; 6(9):436-442. https://doi.org/10.20959/wjpps20174-9012
24. Kumar A, Verma PRP. Formulation and evaluation of transdermal patches of antihypertensive drugs using polymeric blends. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2019; 52:870-878.
25. Jain NK, Gupta V, Singh R. Development and evaluation of matrix-type transdermal drug delivery systems using natural polymers. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. 2018; 9(4):1452-1460.
26. Sharma R, Gupta S, Kaur G. Formulation and evaluation of polymeric transdermal films for controlled drug delivery. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. 2020; 13(4):89-95.
27. Brahmankar DM, Jaiswal SB. Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics: A Treatise. 3rd ed. New Delhi: Vallabh Prakashan; 2016.
28. United States Pharmacopeia. United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary (USP 47-NF 42). Rockville, MD: United States Pharmacopeial Convention; 2024
Published
Abstract Display: 69 
PDF Downloads: 88 PDF Downloads: 9 How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2026 Mayank Shukla , Rakesh Singh
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
How to Cite
.