Tetrahydro curcumin loaded PCL-PEG electrospun transdermal nanofiber patch: Preparation, characterization, and in vitro diffusion evaluations

Tetrahydro curcumin (THC) loaded polycaprolactone (PCL)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite electrospun nanofiber (NF) was developed, and hybridized as a transdermal patch. The nanofiber was prepared with 2:1 ratio of 10% w/v PCL and 5% w/v PEG and loaded with 8.7 % wt THC. The prepared NF was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The NF mat was hybridized in to transdermal patches then its physical-chemical parameters and in vitro diffusion of THC were also evaluated. The prepared formulation ideally followed the Higuchi's model (r(2) = 0.975) of diffusion mechanism with case II relaxation behavior and anomalous transport of THC for 24 h.