The objective of this work was to develop a transdermal therapeutic system loaded with Curcumin- Phospholipid Supramolecular Complex (CMN-PLC) for systemic delivery of Curcumin (CMN). The phospholipid complexation technique was investigated to overcome the solubility and stability problem of CMN to deliver it transdermally. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) study were performed to investigate the interaction of drug and PL. The CMN-PLC was incorporated in polymeric matrix of EudragitRS100 and EudragitRL100 of different ratio. The films were evaluated physicochemically. The drug permeation study was performed across excised pig ear epidermis. Surface morphology of transdermal films were studied by SEM before and after permeation study. The optimized formulation was evaluated for Anti-inflammatory efficacy on wistar rats by carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. Stability study of formulations was performed at ambient and accelerated conditions. The transdermal formulations showed good physicochemical properties like drug content, thickness, film folding endurance, moisture content and moisture uptake. The permeation study showed that the formulation followed zero order permeation kinetics. Minute irregularities and a few holes were observed in the photomicrograph of film which suggested the drug release was by simple diffusion mechanism. The optimized formulation CF5 showed significant anti-inflammatory efficacy than the oral control group (p < 0.05). Stability study data suggested the formulations loaded with CMN-PLC possessed maximum stability. The results of the experiments showed that the CMN can be effectively delivered by transdermal route by complexing it supramolecularly with PL and incorporating within transdermal matrix systems for sustained action and prolonged use.
