Development and Evaluation of a Vericiguat Drug-in-Adhesive Transdermal Patch Using a Hybrid Polyacrylate Silicone Matrix for Controlled Drug Release

Abstract

This study developed and evaluated a vericiguat drug-in-adhesive transdermal patch using a hybrid polyacrylate–silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive matrix for controlled release. Six formulations, VTP1–VTP6, were prepared by solvent casting with different polyacrylate-to-silicone ratios while maintaining constant drug and enhancer levels. The patches were assessed for appearance, thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, surface pH, moisture content, moisture uptake, adhesion, drug content, content uniformity, membrane diffusion, in vitro release, release kinetics and accelerated stability. VTP3, containing a 70:30 polyacrylate–silicone ratio, showed the best overall performance, with optimum adhesion, 98.64 ± 1.92% drug content, 94.84 ± 4.27% release and 89.12 ± 4.45% membrane diffusion at 12 hours. Release followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with non-Fickian transport. The optimized patch remained stable for two months under accelerated conditions