Properties of Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex Blended Films with Glycol Penetration Enhancers for Pharmaceutical Applications

Abstract

The blended film of deproteinized natural rubber latex (DNRL) with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and dibutylphthalate (DBP) provided good properties that suitable for pharmaceutical applications. However, this film had successfully been confirmed in transdermal use only for high skin permeable drugs. In this study, this film was further modified to look forward on the delivery of a low permeable drug. Glycols, one group of chemical penetration enhancer, were investigated to blend in this film in order to enhance the low permeable drug through the skin. Various concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 parts per hundred of rubber (phr)) of ethylene glycol (EG), propylene glycol (PG), and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) were blended with DNRL/HPMC/ DBP mixtures before film construction by solution-casting technique. The modified films were evaluated in thickness, tensile strength, peel strength, tack adhesive, swelling and erosion ratios, moisture uptake, and compatibility. These blended films provided good characters in elasticity, adhesive properties, hydrophilicity, and compatibility. Their thickness could be controlled to be uniform. These new blended films were suitable to use in the further study for low permeable drug delivery through the skin.