TRANSDERMAL PATCHES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON TECHNOLOGIES, THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL, AND CHALLENGES
Twinkle Singh, Renuka Namdeo, S. Nayak
ABSTRACT
Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) represent an innovative and non-invasive approach to delivering therapeutic agents through the skin and into systemic circulation. The use of medicated adhesive patches provides numerous advantages over conventional routes, including bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism, sustaining plasma drug levels, and improving patient compliance. The present review elaborates on the development, components, types, methods of preparation, evaluation, and potential applications of transdermal patches in various therapeutic areas such as pain management, hormone replacement, cardiovascular disease, insulin delivery, gene therapy, and vaccination. Further, it discusses the limitations including limited permeability for large molecules, skin irritation, inter-individual variability, and regulatory barriers. Despite these challenges, advances in formulation technology and emerging innovations such as microneedle arrays, bioresponsive systems, and digital health integration are expected to expand the scope and effectiveness of TDDS in modern medicine.
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