Poly-5-aminoindole:Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) loaded locust bean gum/xanthan gum hydrogel for transdermal delivery of Imatinib via iontophoresis

Melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer due to its ability to rapidly spread to various organs. The oral drug administration is preferred for its convenience. However, the oral route faces challenges, including the first-pass metabolism and delayed onset of action. Therefore, the transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) offers an alternative approach to overcome these limitations. This work developed an iontophoresis-based transdermal patch using LCB and XG hydrogel as the drug matrix. In addition, PAIn:PSS was synthesized and employed as the drug carrier, whereas Imatinib was used as the model drug. LCB:XG hydrogels were fabricated at the various weight ratios. The LCB:XG (60:40%w/w) hydrogel exhibited the largest pore size (261.3 ± 67.3 μm). In-vitro release and permeation studies demonstrated that a lower XG ratio resulted in increased Imatinib release. Additionally, incorporating PAIn:PSS further enhanced the release efficiency. Applying an electric field significantly improved drug permeation due to the electrorepulsion which promoted the transport of drug molecules across the skin. Additionally, the permeated release at the pH of 5.5 was slightly lower than that at the pH of 7.4; this can be attributed to the increased positive charge of Imatinib reducing skin permeation due to increased hydrophilicity. Cytotoxicity tests revealed that incorporating PAIn:PSS into the hydrogel patch maintained the high cell viability of 84%, confirming that the hydrogel patch was safe for human tissues. These findings highlight the potential of LCB:XG hydrogel-based transdermal patches combined with PAIn:PSS and iontophoresis for the controlled drug release and efficient Imatinib transdermal delivery.