Formulation and Evaluation of Transdermal Topical Gel of Ibuprofen

Abstract

The present research work is based on the formulation and evaluation of topical gel of Ibuprofen where Carbopol 940 is used as the polymer. Gels were prepared by dispersing the polymers  in a mixture of water and glycerol with methyl paraben as the preservative and the varying amount of ibuprofen, being kept under magnetic stirring until the homogeneous dispersion was formed. The dispersion was then neutralized and made viscous by the addition of triethanolamine. The Carbopol gels of Ibuprofen were found to be homogenous with good drug loading. The pH of all the gel formulations was found within the neutral pH range which is compatible with skin. And the viscosity of the formulations was found to be feasible for topical drug delivery. The drug content of the three formulations was found in the range of 87.56% to 90.45% which shows efficient drug loading. Results of In vitro drug release study showed that F5 formulation has better diffusion of drug through egg membrane and hence further permeation studies were carried out through rat epidermis. The compatibility study showed that the major peaks in FTIR spectra of the pure drug were found to be intact in their physical mixture. Hence there is no interaction between drug and Carbopol in their physical mixture. Carbopol can be effectively used as the polymer for topical gel preparation. And F5 formulation containing 0.5 % w/w Carbopol 940 may be effectively used as topical transdermal delivery for Ibuprofen. Keywords: Ibuprofen, Transdermal Gel, Drug release, Compatibility study