Assessment of Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Double-layered Diclofenac Diethylamine Transdermal Patch

Abstract

Diclofenac Diethylamine has been used generally in the management of pain and inflammation caused by musculoskeletal disorders. The current study revealed the preliminary investigation into the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of an optimized double-layered transdermal patch of Diclofenac Diethylamine. The patch was prepared by using the hydrophobic acrylic polymer Eudragit RL 100 and the hydrophilic polymer Polyvinyl pyrrolidone K-30 in combination as the first layer of matrix type and pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive Duro Tak 387-2510 as the second layer of drug-in-adhesive type patch. The solvent casting method was employed to prepare the transdermal patch over the backing membrane. We optimized the patch in terms of its concentration based on results exhibited by ex-vivo and in-vitro studies using FDC and the rat’s skin. This study was designed to assess the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of an optimized patch with the respective models in laboratory animals. In a comparison of the developed transdermal patch with commercially available Diclofenac Diethylamine gel (Volini gel), the developed patch was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.01) and effective for decreasing pain and inflammation symptoms. The findings of the study suggest that the prepared double-layered transdermal patch of Diclofenac Diethylamine can serve as the best carrier to provide a sustained effect for the management of pain and inflammation.