Effect of ethanolamine salts and enhancers on the percutaneous absorption of piroxicam from a pressure sensitive adhesive matrix.

The effects of salt formation on the percutaneous absorption of piroxicam through hairless mouse skin from a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) matrix were investigated. We also studied the effect of permeation enhancers on the skin permeation of piroxicam or piroxicam-ethanolamine (PX-EA) salts from an acrylic adhesive matrix. The order of the permeation rates of piroxicam and PX-EA salts from the PSA matrix was piroxicam-monoethanolamine salt (PX-MEA)>piroxicam-diethanolamine salt (PX-DEA)>piroxicam>piroxicam-triethanolamine salt (PX-TEA). The enhancer Crovol A40 provided the highest piroxicam and PX-MEA fluxes and Plurol oleque the highest PX-DEA and PX-TEA fluxes. The order of piroxicam and PX-EA salts permeabilities were different for saturated solutions in various enhancers and PSA matrix containing the same enhancer, especially when Crovol A40, Crovol PK40 or Plurol oleque were used as enhancers. No close relationship was found between the fluxes of piroxicam or PX-EA salts from saturated solutions and from PSA matrices containing the same enhancer. Maximum piroxicam flux was obtained when PX-MEA/PX-TEA (4:6, v/v) was incorporated into a PSA matrix containing Crovol PK40.