INTRODUCTION:

Transdermal patch utilizing natural polymers delivers medications through the skin by using bio-based materials such as flaxseed mucilage, chitosan, starch, and cellulose derivatives, which regulate drug release through processes like diffusion, degradation, and swelling. These patches present a safe and efficient alternative to oral or injectable medications by circumventing first-pass metabolism, ensuring continuous drug delivery, and enhancing patient adherence. The procedure includes combining the drug with the natural polymer, plasticizers, and additional ingredients, followed by assessing the resulting patches for characteristics such as drug release, adhesion, and stability^1,2 Natural polymers, which are both biodegradable and biocompatible, serve as a framework or storage for the medication. Natural polymer having other advantages like-non-toxic, cost effective, easy to use³. Natural polymer loaded transdermal patches mainly prepared by different techniques like-solvent casting method, electrospinning method, nano-formulation method⁴.

Aloe vera is a succulent plant with a rosette of long, pointed leaves that belongs to the Liliaceae family. Its name originates from the term ‘alloeh,’ which translates to bitter. Current taxonomists use the name aloe vera to identify aloe barbadensis.⁵ Aloe vera displays notable antibacterial properties on the skin, targeting a range of Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive by interfering with their cellular mechanisms. This capability is linked to substances such as aloin and acemannan, and it tends to be more effective at elevated gel concentrations, suggesting it may serve as a viable alternative or complement to antibiotics for addressing bacterial skin infections and aiding in wound healing.⁶

Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic that disrupts bacterial protein and RNA synthesis, making it effective for treating skin infections such as impetigo and secondary infections in wounds by eliminating bacteria. It is also demonstrating potential in aiding wound healing by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation and increasing the production of growth factors. Although it is mostly well-tolerated, it may lead to mild local side effects, including burning, itching, or irritation of the skin⁷ Pseudomonas fluorescens is the source of mupirocin, which is mostly used topically to treat a variety of skin diseases brought on by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus⁸

The current study's goal was to create an aloe vera transdermal patch filled with mupirocin that exhibited antibacterial properties using the solvent casting method and then assess it.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Materials:

Aden Healthcare provided a gift sample of mupirocin (Baddi, Solan (H.P), India-173205). Formulators Inc. (Tamil Nadu, India) sold spray-dried aloe vera powder; OXFORD LAB FINE CHEM LLP (Palghar-410210, Maharashtra, India) sold sodium alginate; Agrawal Drugs Pvt. Limited (Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India) sold glycerine; and Nice Chemicals Private Limited (Kerala, India-682024) sold gelatin-B.

Methods:

Spray dried aloe vera powder was dissolved in de ionized water and mixed with glycerine (plasticizer), sodium alginate (polymer), gelatine B (co-polymer) at different concentration by magnetic stirrer at 500 rpm. The drug solution prepared separately and added to the prepared mixture slowly and kept aside for 2 hrs for the removal of air bubbles. For complete removal of dissolved air bubbles the mixture kept into the ultrasonic bath (Aczet, CUB 15). The mixture was then carefully moved to a petri dish lined with aluminium foil and kept into hot air oven at 40⁰C for 24 hrs. After drying the films, they were cut into particular shape and kept into desiccator for further use.

Table no-1: Formulation of mupirocin loaded aloe vera transdermal patch

Ingredients (%W/V)	F1	F2	F3	F4
Mupirocin	1	1	1	1
Spray dried aloe vera powder	5	5	5	5
Glycerine	20	20	20	10
Sodium alginate	15	20	10	20
Gelatin-B	5	10	15	20

Evaluation of prepared patch:

· Physical appearance: In order to assess the transdermal patches' physical appearance, they were examined visually for regular physical traits, such as the existence of surface abnormalities including brittleness, poor clarity, excessive lubrication, and texture variances.^9,10,11

· Thickness: A digital micrometre screw gauge was used to measure the patch's final thickness at three different points, and the average value was calculated.^12,13,14.

· Folding Endurance: A strip of two centimetres by two centimetres was cut uniformly and folded repeatedly at the same spot until it broke completely. The films' folding endurance was measured by counting how many times they were folded at that particular spot without breaking.^15,16,17

· Tensile strength: The tensile strength of the patch was measured using a tensiometer. This device has two load cell grips: an adjustable upper grip and a stationary lower grip. After securing 2x2 cm film strips between these cell grips, force was gradually applied until the films broke. Then the tensile strength was reported in kilograms.^18,19,20

· Swelling index: Pieces of film (1cm²) were submerged in distilled water, then after specific intervals, the soaked films were taken out of the liquid, patted to eliminate excess moisture, and weighed right away and calculated by using following formula-

W2 – W1

Swelling index = ––––––––– ×100

Where W1 and W2 were initial and final weight i.e. before and after immersion into liquid phase.^21,22,23

· Drug Content: The prepared patches (2 x 1 cm2) were gathered, cut into smaller pieces, and added to a beaker filled with 100 ml of distilled water. After that, a magnetic stirrer was used to agitate the mixture for five hours. The mixture was then filtered and examined for drug concentration using UV spectrophotometry at 222 nm with the proper dilution.^24,25,26

· In-vitro drug release: A Franz diffusion cell with a 250 ml receptor compartment was used for an in-vitro diffusion investigation. The Franz diffusion cell's donor and receptor compartments were separated by a membrane (cellophane). The prepared patches were trimmed to a size of 2 x 1 cm2 and positioned on top of the cellophane membrane, while the diffusion cell's receptor compartment was filled with pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. A magnetic stirrer was used to secure the entire system, and magnetic beads were used to continually mix the solution in the receptor compartment at a speed of 100 rpm. A temperature of 37±0.5°C was fixed. At intervals of one hour to twenty-four hours, five millilitres of samples were taken out and examined using UV spectrophotometry at 222 nm in comparison to a blank. With every sample removal, the same volume of phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 was added to the receptor compartment. The cumulative amounts of drug release on the y axis and time on the x axis were then used to construct the graph^27,28,29.

RESULTS:

Physical appearance:

Table no-2: Physical appearance of prepared transdermal patch

Sl No	Physical appearance	Result
1	Appearance	Gel like
2	Color	Pale yellow
3	Clarity	Semi transparent
4	Flexibility	Very good
5	Smoothness	good

Thickness: Table No. 3 provided the prepared transdermal patch's thickness.

Folding Endurance: Table No. 3 mentioned the prepared transdermal patch's folding endurance.

Tensile strength: Table No. 3 lists the prepared transdermal patch's tensile strength.

Swelling index: Table No. 3 listed the prepared transdermal patch's swelling index.

Drug Content: Table No. 3 listed the prepared transdermal patch's drug content.

In-vitro drug release: Table No. 4 listed the created transdermal patches in-vitro drug release.

Table no. 4: In-vitro drug release of prepared transdermal patches

Time (hrs)	F1 (%)	F2 (%)	F3 (%)	F4 (%)
4	18	21	32	28
8	26	32	51	36
12	38	41	63	43
16	42	58	71	56
20	59	74	86	75
24	78	86	92	97

Fig. No. 1: In-vitro drug release of prepared transdermal patch

DISCUSSION:

According to physical appearance the patches were semi-transparent pale-yellow color smooth. Among 4 formulations F4 was the best as per the thickness (0.120 mm), folding endurance (145 times) swelling index (78%), drug content (82.86%) and in-vitro drug release (97% after 24 hours).

CONCLUSION:

In recent decades, natural polymers have garnered significantly more interest because of their uses in environmental protection and physical health maintenance. The discussion indicates that including drugs in natural polymers creates dosage forms that release the drug over an extended period.

In this study, transdermal patches were developed to enhance the transdermal delivery of the active ingredient. Film made from dried aloe vera powder infused with mupirocin for antibacterial properties. Plasticizers and polymer mixtures could also be combined to offer the most appropriate film. These films demonstrated excellent characteristics in strength, elasticity, and properties of drug release.

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Received on 19.11.2025 Revised on 20.12.2025

Accepted on 09.01.2026 Published on 30.01.2026

Available online from February 05, 2026

Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech.2026; 18(1):35-38.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4377.2026.00006

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License. Creative Commons License.

Formulation code of prepared transdermal patch	Thickness of prepared transdermal patch (mm)	Folding Endurance of prepared transdermal patch (no)	Tensile strength of prepared transdermal patch (kg/mm²)	Swelling index of prepared transdermal patch (%)	% Drug Content of prepared transdermal patch
F1	0.123	112	0.41	68	72.40
F2	0.159	120	0.36	66	67.18
F3	0.140	134	0.45	71	82.44
F4	0.120	145	0.38	78	82.86