DOI: 10.21276/sajp.2017.6.3.1

Pages: 71-79

Piroxicam; a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) , was prepared as a transdermal gel by mixing with a cyclodextrin in equal amounts and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) as a matrix polymer in 3 and 6% concentrations. Piroxicam was examined for its melting point and characterized by its fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The prepared formulas were tested in terms of their release and diffusion behavior and compared with a marketed piroxicam gel. The results of the release and diffusion studies were subjected into different mathematical models to elucidate the pattern and mechanism of their release and diffusion. It was concluded that (F1) which contain 0.15 g of piroxicam and cyclodextrin in a matrix consist of 3% NaCMC represent the best one in terms of release and diffusion during the study period where 95% of piroxicam released during 3 hours and 78% of the drug was diffused through cellophane membrane during 4 hours.