ABSTRACT
In order to introduce an easily applicable, removable, painless and long-term drug delivery system for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM], hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose with polyvinyl alcohol [HPMC-PVA] blend patches of metormin HC1 were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. A suitable patch of metformin 800mg with HPMC-PVA blend were used, following a three cycle freeze-thaw technique. Drug release kinetic profiles were performed in both patch and swim bladder. Albino mice were artificially generated as NIDDM mice by alloxan insertion i.p and after then treated with the therapeutic patch. Blood glucose was estimated by commercially available glucose kit based on glucose oxidase method. Drug release parameters from the patch and swim bladder were typical non-Fickian diffusion and both have the same kinetic constant, revealing its possible diffusion through stratum corneum. Hypoglycemia was observed in treatment of normal mice with TDDS of metformin HC1 within 4 hours i.e. 25 +/- 2.13mg/dl and within 16 hours in diabetic rats blood glucose level returned to normal level i.e. from 360 +/- 3.3mg/dl [NIDDM level] to 105 +/- 2.5 mg/dl [Normal level]. The TDS-patch has got the same kinetic simulation with that of swim-bladder, which might be a prediction for in vivo application. Here metformin was delivered to diabetic mice and has got significant anti-diabetic effect can be considered as a kind of patch for NIDDM just like wearing and taking off a hand watch because hypoglycaemia can be removed by just taking off the patch