Effect of permeation enhancers on dynamic mechanical properties of acrylate pressure sensitive adhesives

Abstract

Physico-chemical properties of permeation enhancers like molecular weight/size, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, co-solvency, etc. are necessary during their selection for pharmaceutical product development. Chemical permeation enhancers modulate the viscoelastic properties of pressure sensitive adhesives. The extent of this modulation depends upon the molecular size and branching of the polymeric chains. The functional nature of this branching additionally changes the peel and tack properties of PSA's. Chemical permeation enhancers alone are not able to modify viscoelastic properties of aqueous based PSA's as compared with their solvent based counterparts. These modulated mechanical aspects need to be maintained throughout development of transdermal patch along with other pharmaceutical aspects like drug release and drug stability.

Keywords: Acrylate; DMA; DPG; Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA); EP; European Pharmacopoeia; OA; PSA; Permeation enhancer; Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA); SEC; Sol P; Soluphor P; Transdermal; dipropylene glycol; dynamic mechanical analysis; oleic acid; pressure sensitive adhesive; size exclusion chromatography.