A novel cataplasma matrix of traditional Chinese medicine

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to develop a cataplasma matrix that can be applicable to both watersoluble and liposoluble drugs. The gellan gum and konjaku were employed as the scaffold materials of the matrix. With polyacrylic acid sodium and oligosaccharides as tacktifier, the formula of the cataplasma matrix was optimized in the orthogonal method as: gellan gum 0.4 g, xanthan€gum 0.03 g, konjac glue 0.1 g, glycerin 4 g, Gluco-Adhesive T (GAT) 6 g, Gluco-Adhesive E (GAE) 6 g, polyacrylic acid sodium 0.22 g, and sorbitol 3 g. The 180° peel strength, the tensile strength and the elongation at break was 3.043 N, 0.275 MPa and 91.05%, respectively. Furthermore, the drug-compatibilities of the matrix were investigated with baicalin, berberine and curcumin, which were used as the models of hydrophilic, poor-water-soluble and hydrophobic ingredients. The drug contents could reach 4.12% , 2.42% and 3.75%, while the in vitro release rate were measured as, 361.79, 55.85 and 104.41 μg·cm^−2·h^−1 for baicalin, berberine and curcumin, respectively. These results indicated that the obtained matrix had good drug-compatibility and drug-release properties for different ingredients.