Use of Isolated Pectin from a Cissampelos pareira-Based Polymer Blend Matrix for the Transdermal Delivery of Nicotine

Pectin is a natural biopolymer, and a major component of a complex heterogeneous polysaccharide found in the primary cell walls and middle lamella of plant tissues. This paper used pectin isolated from Cissampelos pareira (Krueo Ma Noy) leaves to prepare the matrix layer for nicotine transdermal patches. However, the patch was a brittle film, thus, deproteinized natural rubber latex (DNRL) was blended to improve flexibility of the patch. Here we present for the first time a preparation study exploring the suitability of isolated pectin blends to serve as drug carriers and the mechanism controlling the release patterns of nicotine. The hydrophilicity of the patches was found to decrease when increasing the DNRL ratio. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction experiments were used to characterize the interactions between the investigated drugs and the matrix polymers. In vitro studies showed that the isolated pectin blends were an effective matrix for controlled nicotine release. The release and permeation patterns of nicotine depend on the hydrophilicity of the patches. The kinetic models of nicotine were found to be a Higuchi model and zero order for in vitro release and skin permeation, respectively.