Effective factors on iontophoretic transdermal delivery of memantine and donepezil as model drugs

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare in vitro and in vivo release characteristics of memantine hydrochloride and donepezil hydrochloride in monolayer films those prepared by the solvent evaporation method. Eudragit EPO (EPO), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and ethylcellulose (EC) were used as polymer matrix; polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used as a plasticizer, and glycerol (Gl) was used to give balanced monolayer film moisture content. The same matrix were used to load the same concentrations of the model drugs to compare their characteristic release properties and to minimalize the effect of formulation that may affect their specific release properties. Drug-loaded monolayer films were surrounded with cellophane membranes as a barrier on in vitro release studies. The in vivo studies were performed on the shaved (hairless) dorsal region of Wistar albino rats.