Rate-controlling biopolymer membranes as transdermal delivery systems for nifedipine: Development and in vitro evaluations

Membrane permeation-controlled transdermal delivery devices for the controlled delivery of nifedipine were developed using collagen (which was extracted from calf fetus skin) and chitosan membranes as rate-controlling membrane. To increase the stability of nifedipine in the systems, alginate gel was used as drug reservoir. Transdermal devices were fabricated by adhesive sealing techniques. In vitro drug release studies were carried out using modified Franz diffusion cells. Drug release was found to depend on the type of membrane used to control the drug delivery, suggesting that drug delivery is efficiently controlled by the rate-controlling membranes.