Design and optimization of process parameters of polyvinyl alcohol-graft-lactic acid films for transdermal drug delivery

Abstract

The objective was to apply a simplex lattice design to determine the properties of polyvinyl alcohol-graft-lactic acid (PVA-g-LA) with different values for two independent variables: curing time (X₁) and LA ratio (X₂). Each independent variable was varied among three levels: –1, 0, and +1. Three coded levels were 120 min, 150 min, and 180 min for X₁ and 2.5 g, 5 g, and 7.5 g for X₂. Dependent variables of swelling behavior in various swelling media and thermal analysis parameters were monitored. The optimal formulation was selected based on the desirability value. The prediction was accurate, showing a low value of percent error. The morphology of the selected formulation with the highest desirability value showed a compact and dense film. Propranolol hydrochloride used as a model drug, was loaded into PVA-g-LA film. The propranolol hydrochloride content was 4.19 ± 1.05 mg/cm². The cumulative release and permeation of drug were 61.94 ± 8.03% and 59.96 ± 6.61%, respectively. Thus, response surface methodology can be used as a tool to predict or optimize the process parameters for PVA-g-LA transdermal films in an accurate manner. PVA-g-LA could control the release and permeation of drug from the film layer.

Key words
Film; optimization; transdermal film; polyvinyl alcohol-graft-lactic acid