Abstract

“A REVIEW ON TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY OF NSAIDS: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS AND FORMULATION STRATEGIES”

Ms. Pratima Pathak*, Dr. Anand Mahalwar

Abstract

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly used therapeutic agents for managing pain, inflammation, and fever. However, conventional oral administration is often limited by gastrointestinal irritation, hepatic toxicity, and renal complications due to systemic exposure and first-pass metabolism. To overcome these drawbacks, transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) have gained significant attention as an effective and non-invasive alternative route of administration. The transdermal route offers sustained and controlled drug release, bypasses hepatic firstpass metabolism, minimizes gastrointestinal side effects, and enhances patient compliance. Successful transdermal delivery depends on several physicochemical and biological factors, including drug lipophilicity, molecular weight, and skin permeability. Various formulation strategies such as vesicular systems, nanocarriers, microemulsions, and hydrogels have been developed to enhance the penetration and bioavailability of NSAIDs through the skin. Despite promising advancements, challenges like limited permeability, formulation stability, and scalability remain. Overall, transdermal delivery of NSAIDs presents a promising approach for achieving effective, sustained, and safe therapeutic outcomes in chronic pain and inflammatory conditions.

Keywords: NSAIDs, Transdermal drug delivery, COX inhibition, Nanocarriers, Permeation enhancement, Sustained release.