Desenvolvimento de um dispositivo tecnológico para a fabricação de filmes transdérmicos: possível aplicação para a terapêutica individualizada com tadalafila

Abstract

The great amount of activities the pharmacy industry develops in terms of research, improvement and innovation, as well as the new therapies and drugs made available encourage the introduction of new products and alternative routes for drug administration as an option in new treatments for many diseases. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient for a satisfactory sexual function. Although not life threatening, the ED can have a negative effect on interpersonal relationships, compromising one’s well-being and quality of life, both individually and as a couple. Recent pharmacological advances in the treatment of ED have aroused growing interest among health professionals towards sexual dysfunction, generating an increasing demand for pharmaceutical forms with greater acceptance by the patient and/or alternative routes for drug administration, including tadalafil. Therefore, this study aimed at developing a technological device capable of making polymeric films (patches) which might enable drug dosage individualization and transdermal administration. In order to create such mechanical device, technical drawings were made by using the software Solidworks/Premium 2015 and taking into account ergonomic, manufacturing and cost requirements for the health sector. Subsequently, a functional prototype was built in 316L stainless steel and a pharmaceutical formulation containing tadalafil (10 mg cm-2 adhesive) as active ingredient was prepared. An analytical method (highperformance liquid chromatography) was developed and validated for drug quantification, according to resolution RE 899. The parameters evaluated were: robustness, specificity, linearity, detection and quantification limits, precision and accuracy. The adhesives were assessed regarding average weight (n = 10) and the average weight value was of 241.01 mg (standard deviation = 3.41 and acceptance value = 12.40); the content uniformity for preparations in unit doses (n = 10) the percentage was 108.93 % (standard deviation = 0.82 and coefficient of variation = 0.75 %) and intra adhesive tadalafil content (n = 40) a uniform distribution of the same (mean coefficient of variation < 2 %) was observed. Then, the ex vivo permeation of polymeric films containing tadalafil was determined in Franz cells (n = 6) equipped with human skin and kept for 12 hours in contact with the adhesive containing the formulation and by using the tape stripping method. The optimized method showed acceptable confidence limits and within the recommended by RE 899, being validated for use in ex vivo permeation studies with polymer films containing tadalafil. Tadalafil was able to permeate to the viable epidermis and dermis, with a percentage of 5.7 %. Thus, the created device was able to produce homogeneous polymer films of tadalafil, showing such technological innovation to be feasible in the individualized therapy for the ED treatment.