Release and Skin Permeation of Scopolamine From Thin Polymer Films in Relation to Thermodynamic Activity.

The object was to demonstrate if the diffusional flux of the drug out of a drug-in-adhesive-type matrix and its subsequent permeation through an excised skin membrane is a linear function of the drug's thermodynamic activity in the thin polymer film. The thermodynamic activity, ap(*), is defined here as the degree of saturation of the drug in the polymer. Both release and release/permeation of scopolamine base from 3 different poylacrylate pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) were measured. The values for ap(*) were calculated using previous published saturation solubilities, wp(s), of the drug in the PSAs. Different rates of release and release/permeation were determined between the 3 PSAs. These differences could be accounted for quantitatively by correlating with ap(*) rather than the concentration of the drug in the polymer films. At similar values for ap(*) the same release or release/permeation rates from the different polymers were measured. The differences could not be related to cross-linking or presence of ionizable groups of the polymers that should influence diffusivity.

Measuring drug saturation solubility in thin polymer films: use of a thin acceptor layer.

The saturation solubility of scopolamine base in two pressure sensitive adhesive DURO-TAKs has been determined using the 5-layer laminate technique. The acceptor layer had a thickness of less than 25 µm to promote a rapid partitioning equilibrium. With DURO-TAK 87-2510 the saturation solubility is 5.2 ± 0.6% w/w when measured after 7 days. With DURO-TAK 87-4098 the saturation solubility is slightly higher, 7.9 ± 0.7% w/w after 7 days. These values remained constant up to approximately 30 days' experimental time. In both cases the acceptor was free of crystalline material at the end of the experiment. This strongly suggests that that equilibrium had been reached between the saturated solution in the acceptor layer and the crystalline drug still present in the donor layer. The addition of light liquid paraffin to the acceptor produced a solubilizing effect with 87-4098 but not 87-2510. We recommend some experimental conditions that we consider to be necessary to achieve a reliable and accurate result with this technique. If performed correctly, it can give a feasible result.