INTRODUCTION:

Chitosan is versatile biopolymer which has high demand in the market for biomedical use as well as in novel drug delivery systems¹. Most of the population prefer natural and organic material instead of synthetic material even if natural material obtained costly². Naturally chitosan is obtained from exoskeletons of crustaceans and also from the fungi and insects. Chitosan is biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and low in allergenicity and thus can be used in a wide range of applications in industries; pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and even in cosmetics^3,4. The chemical formula of chitosan made up of randomly distributed 1-4-linked D glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units⁵. Remarkable is the property portrayed by chitosan cationic nature, especially when it is in an acidic solution where it appears neutral or negative. This property allows chitosan to participate in the electrostatic interaction creating complexes or multilayer structures when intermixed with other negatively charged polymers, synthetic or natural, in the polymer matrix. Cationic character of chitosan makes it stand out among most polysaccharides and provides numerous applications in the different areas of life like in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and waste water treatment⁶. Chitosan can be utilized in food industry and pharmaceutical industry because it is safe as it has been stated by the USFDA. In recent years chitosan has received considerable interest in regard to its use in a wide variety of biological and biomedical processes⁷. These are water treatment, and wound dressing, pharmaceutical carrier or drugs excipient, treatment of obesity and as a carrier of tissues engineering scaffold⁶. Chitosan has varied biological characteristics like anti-tumor, antimicrobial and anti-oxidant properties⁸. Among the factors affecting these properties are the level of deacetylation that is quantified by the percentage or molar fraction of chitosan deacetylation and the molecular weight of chitosan⁵.

Transdermal drug delivery systems offer a promising approach for administering medications through the skin, bypassing the gastrointestinal tract and providing controlled release of drugs into the systemic circulation^9,11. These systems utilize various technologies and formulations to deliver drugs across the skin barrier efficiently and safely^10,12. One common approach involves the use of transdermal patches, which typically consist of several layers, including a drug reservoir, adhesive, and backing membrane⁹. The drug is released from the reservoir into the skin, where it can then enter the bloodstream^13,14. The transdermal drug delivery system is way more effective than oral and intravenous route¹⁵. Transdermal drug delivery system overcomes the systemic toxicity and reduces adverse effects which leads to better patient compliance¹⁶. Accordingly, the present study aimed to optimize transdermal drug delivery systems by utilizing chitosan extracted from marine sources.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Collection of sources:

The source (Golden apple snails) collected from local region of Bhandara and Sakoli region.

Golden apple snails, scientifically known as Pomacea canaliculata, is a species of large freshwater snail belonging to family Ampullariidae. They may be subdivided into 2 types of snail shells; they are yellow-brown-yellow meated and mustached. They are black and dark green and have slight black stripe along length having texture and brownish mustache. Chitosan is a derivative of chitin and it could be produced by extracting shells of golden apple snails. The shells of golden apple snails are composed of a great quantity of chitin, which may be changed into chitosan under the influence of chemical processes¹⁷.

Methods:

Coarse powder Formation:

The golden apple snail shell sorted out and cleaned properly; then shell dried at 100℃ for 60 minutes. The dried snail shells are crushed to form coarse powder¹⁸.

Deproteination:

The coarse powder weighted up to 20g and it reacts with 4% NaOH solution (1:10 w/v). the mixture of the coarse powder and NaOH were heated 2hours, at 65C. The residue was stirred and filtered on filter paper and with distilled water up to the point when the residue turns neutral (±7). The centrifugate residue was dried at room temperature¹⁸.

Demineralization:

The deproteinized residue is combined with 1M HCl (1: 15w/v). The solution was stirred by magnetic stirrer over 3 hours at 25-30^oC and then filtered the concentrate. The mixture is treated with distilled water until a pH 5-6 is attained. The remaining product of the process of deproteination and demineralization is chitin¹⁸.

Deacetylation:

Chitin is treated with 60 percent NaOH solution and it is stirred by hot plate stirrer at 100⁰C over 3.5hours, followed by cooling it at room temperature over 1hour. The chitosan obtained was washed using distilled water until it is neutral (±7). Drying of the residue is performed in a room temperature. The chitosan was acquired as a powder form¹⁸.

Preparation of Chitosan Based Transdermal Patches

In patch base, 33.3mL of 1% acetic acid solution would be combined with 8.3mL citric acid solution 1% to form acid solution in it; 8.3mL of 1% glycerin solution should be added to it. Subsequently, chitosan of known amount was put after adding 2 moles in the solution stirred with magnetic stirrer during 2hours. This solution was stored overnight to get out the bubbles. Then added the solution in Teflon mold and dried in 50^oC in oven 48hours¹⁹.

Table 1: Chitosan based transdermal patch base formulation

Materials	Formulations
Materials	F1 1 % w/v	F2 2 % w/v	F3 3 % w/v
Chitosan	0.5 gm	1 gm	1.5 gm
Acetic acid 1% w/v	33.3 mL	33.3 mL	33.3 mL
Glycerin 1% w/v	8.3 mL	8.3 mL	8.3 mL
Citric acid 1% w/v	8.3 mL	8.3 mL	8.3 mL

Evaluation parameters of chitosan:

1. %yield:

The calculation of the yield was done using the weight of the chitosan obtained after deacetylation to weight of the chitin obtained after demineralization¹⁸. Final %yield can be calculated with given formula:

Weight of chitosan (in grams)

% Yield = ---------------------------------------- x 100

Weight of chitn (in grams)

2. Sulphonated ash and Insoluble Content:

A sample of 1gm was put in porcelain crucible that had been previously weighed and ignited. The sample was moistened using 1ml concentrated H₂SO₄, then heated until the sample was charred. Once cooled, add 1 ml more of H₂SO₄ to the crucible. The piece of crucible was heated to 60℃ with a slight intensity to the point where the residue was entirely burned. The crucible was allowed to cool and was weighed. The heating and cooling procedure was continued until the constant weight is obtained²⁰. As was found to contain sulphated ashes the following content was to be computed:

(W₃-W₁)

Sulphonated Ash (%) = ----------- x 100

W₃

The 1% acetic acid containing solutions were used as dilute solutions to test solubility of chitosan at 25℃. The solution was filtered with the use of 1% acetic acid²⁰. Insoluble content was calculated as.

Weight of insoluble content

Insoluble Ash (%) = -------------------------------------- x 100

Weight of chitosan

Evaluation Parameters of Chitosan-Based Transdermal Patches:

1. Organoleptic Test:

The organoleptic test was performed based on the observation of the shape, colour and smell of the patch^19,22.

2. pH Test:

In the case of the pH test, 10mL of distilled water should be added onto the chitosan-based patches and allowed to stand after 2hours. Measuring the values of pH then, is done by a pH meter. The normal pH level of the skin is between 4.5 and 6.5²³.

3. Drying Shrinkage Test:

In the drying shrinkage test, weigh the patches and placed them in silica containing dessicator for 24 hours. Weigh them again and determine the percentage of drying shrinkage^23,24.

4. Moisture Absorption Test:

When doing the moisture absorption test, the patches were weighed and then placed in the dessicator room temperature and left over 24hours. Thereafter, they were put in 40℃ to weigh after 24hours. The past literature has indicated that the moisture absorption percentage range is between 3.52-9.79 w/v^24,25.

RESULTS:

Evaluation of Chitosan:

1. % yield:

The calculation of the yield was done by taking the weight of the chitosan obtained as a result of deacetylation to the weight of the chitin obtained as a result of demineralization. The yield value of chitosan extracted from Pomacea canaliculata shell is 95.75%. The result of yield value of chitosan greater than the comparative studies. The observed in yield value occurred due the difference in raw material as well as different process for extraction of chitosan. The temperature used in the process for extraction leads to increase in number of reactions.

2. Ash value:

The sulphonated ash and insoluble content used to determine the purity and quality of the drug. The value of sulphonated ash and insoluble content is 5.95% and 4.3%respectively. The sulphonated ash indicates the mineral content in the chitosan. The sulphonated ash found to be 12.78% in the literature. The result of sulphonated ash in this found to be 5.95% which is less than the literature value. The value of ash content affected the washing process of the chitosan in each step. The insoluble content indicates the quality of chitosan. The insoluble content value of chitosan is 4.3% which is more than the literature value which is equal to 2.35%. Chitosan is soluble in dilute acid as compare water.

Evaluation of chitosan based transdermal patches:

1. Morphological Properties:

Ready chitosan patches were identified to be transparent, normal odour and surface situations are dry and not fissured. The patches were smooth-surfaced and elastic in nature as based on the observations. The same makes these patches smooth and strong as a result of the use of chitosan as a biopolymer that renders the molecules with strong interactions.

2. Thickness test:

Comparatively in the thickness test, F1 patch is thin as compared to F2 and F3 which relatively thick and thick in nature. The thickness of the patch determines the drug permeability and drug release. Thin patches are easier to use as compared to thick patches. As the concentration of chitosan increases the thickness of the patches increases. The concentration of chitosan, drying temperature and mold area affects the thickness of the patch. The patch must be thin which are comfortable for the use.

3. pH Test:

The transdermal patches should have the usual pH of 4.5-6.5. The pH of F1, F2 and F3 is 4.97, 5.23 and 5.53 respectively. The pH range of 5 to 9 does not irritate a skin. When the pH value is very acidic, it causes the skin irritation, whereas when it is very alkaline, it causes the scaly surface of the skin as seen below under Table no. 2.

4. Drying Shrinkage Test:

The drying shrinkage test determines the moisture content in the patches after storage in dessicator for 24 hours. Good drying loss is less than 9.29 %w/v of transdermal patches. The drying loss for F1, F2 and F3 is 6.72% w/v, 9.27% w/v and 11.08% w/v respectively. F1 and F2 are comparatively suitable composition than F3. The low value of drying shrinkage has stability which provides benefit to the patches from being contaminated by microbes. The good patch must be smooth, elastic, equally distributed and have low value of drying shrinkage as mentioned below in Table no.2.

5. Moisture Absorption Test:

The water absorption test is an experiment that is conducted to test the absorption of water by patches at 40^oC after 24hours. The patches are able to absorb moisture of the skin and this may influence the patches quality resulting in easy tearing of patches. This is due to the lower value of moisture absorption that results in stable patch and even prevents microbial contamination. Less than 9.79 percent w/v of transdermal patches has good moisture absorption capacity. F1, F2 and F3 have 6.98 w/v, 9.68 w/v and 14.78 w/v moisture absorption. As the concentration of chitosan increases leads to increase in moisture absorption capacity. The good patch must be smooth, elastic, equally distributed and have low value of moisture absorption as mentioned below in Table no.2.

DISCUSSION:

The chitosan extracted from Pomacea canaliculata for preparation of chitosan-based transdermal patches. The extraction of chitosan and the preparation of chitosan-based transdermal patches from Pomacea canaliculata is a promising avenue for utilizing biological waste and creating innovative biomedical application¹⁷. Chitosan-based transdermal patches are prepared by using chitosan as polymer which provides crosslinking between the molecule. From the above observation, the chitosan-based transdermal patches found to be smooth, flexible, transparent and homogenous in nature¹⁹. Chitosan-based transdermal patches provide significant benefits for healthcare, pharmaceutical drug delivery and patient well-being. These patches utilise properties of chitosan which leads to safe, more efficient and environmentally friendly drug delivery options²¹. Chitosan is a natural biopolymer and non-toxic which reduces the cost of production for isolation of synthetic polymer by hydrolysis and chemical process which supports green manufacturing²⁶. Chitosan-based transdermal patches increase the patient compliance for its use as a patch. It improves treatment adherence and reduces healthcare costs associated with repeated dosing, especially for elderly or forgetful patients²⁷. Chitosan has various biological properties such as anti-microbial activity, anti-tumor activity, anti-oxidant activity, wound-healing, etc. Transdermal patches directly deliver into systemic circulation which bypass the first-pass metabolism²¹. This promotes the utilisation of waste like shells and scales provide with highly valuable medical product. This also reduce the environmental pollution caused by the disposal of scales and shells²⁸.

From the earlier data, chitosan does not dissolve in water and in alkaline solutions that leads to the preparation various types of chitosan derivatives. The chitosan derivative pharmaceutical product widely expanded the application of chitosan in pharmaceutical field ²¹. From the above observation, the concentration of chitosan affects the transdermal patches thus, means the concentration of polymer affects the thickness and various factors for transdermal patches¹⁹. In the various study, polymer concentration in the formulation varies according to the different pharmaceutical products. Recently, chitosan is used widely in the food industry as it containing antimicrobial and antioxidant properties²⁹. Hence chitosan was extracted from marine sources, specifically Pomacea canaliculata, and successfully incorporated into a transdermal drug delivery system. This incorporation has the potential to address current challenges associated with transdermal drug delivery system.

CONCLUSION:

The chitosan based transdermal patches demonstrated the acceptable physiochemical characteristics. The extraction of chitosan from natural sources and preparation are crucial steps that significantly influence the quality, efficacy and sustainability of the final product.

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Received on 09.03.2026 Revised on 04.04.2026

Accepted on 29.04.2026 Published on 07.07.2026

Available online from July 10, 2026

Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech.2026; 18(3):175-179.

DOI: 10.52711/0975-4377.2026.00026

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

Formulations (% w/v)	pH test	Drying shrinkage test (% w/v)	Moisture absorption test (% w/v)
F1	4.97	6.72	6.98
F2	5.23	9.27	9.68
F3	5.53	11.08	14.78