Design and Characterization of Transethosomes loaded with Rivastigmine for Enhanced Transdermal Delivery

This research aimed to create and optimize a transethosomal patch containing Rivastigmine Hydrogen Tartarate, a cholinesterase inhibitor, for the symptomatic management of Alzheimer's disease that would reduce drug loading and patch size. Transethosomes are elastic vesicles made up of phospholipids, ethanol, and edge activator. Transethosomes of Rivastigmine were prepared by cold method, which were then incorporated into a transdermal adhesive patch prepared by solvent casting method. The transethosomes were optimised using the central composite design. The optimized transethosomes showed low vesicle size, good entrapment efficiency and enhanced transdermal flux. The electron microscopy revealed that the vesicles were uniform and sphere-shaped, also the vesicle surface was found to be smooth. Rivastigmine Hydrogen Tartarate was released slowly in the study, and the mechanism of drug release followed the Korsemeyer-Peppas model. Transethosomal formulation showed significant increase in the steady state flux to 2.18 times than the pure drug solution. Also, the transethosomal patch showed significant increase in the steady state flux to 1.55 times than the conventional patch. Based on the results, Rivastigmine Hydrogen Tartarate loaded transethosomal patch was the best formulation since it provided long-term drug release.