TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a transdermal or dermatological patch (i.e., the
so-called a sticky plaster) where an adhesive layer containing a pharmaceutical agent
is formed on a substrate, to a substrate sheet therefor, and to a method for the manufacture
of the substrate sheet.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a sticky transdermal patch in which transfer
of the pharmaceutical agent to the substrate sheet does not occur, adhesion between
the adhesive layer and the substrate is strong resulting in no so-called residual
paste when applied to and then detached from skin, the constituting films in the substrate
sheet consisting of layered film are strongly adhered each other, no stickiness on
the surface is noted, and texture, smoothness and fitting to skin are all good and
also relates to a substrate sheet therefor as well as to a method for manufacturing
the substrate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A sticky transdermal patch in which an adhesive containing a pharmaceutical agent
such as skin stimulating agent, anti-inflammatory agent, analgesic, etc. is layered
on a substrate sheet has been widely used as a transcutaneous agent in the medical
field already. In such a patch, it has been known, as described in
JP-A-54-138124, that copolymer of a diene type, particularly, a block copolymer of a diene type
is suitable as an adhesive because, when applied the patch for skin, it shows good
adhesion and fitness to skin and an appropriate elasticity and, further, it does not
irritate the skin upon removal but can be easily detached.
[0004] On the other hand, as a substrate sheet for the transdermal patch as mentioned above,
a vinyl chloride resin which is soft and flexible fitting the skin is suitable. On
the contrary, however, a sheet of the vinyl chloride resin has poor affinity for the
block copolymer of a diene type as an adhesive and, particularly in the case of patch,
the copolymer of a diene type as an adhesive contains higher fatty acids, liquid paraffin,
and the like as plasticizers together with the pharmaceutical agents whereby its affinity
for an adhesive is more inferior.
[0005] As a result, when an adhesive consisting of a block copolymer of a diene type is
directly and just applied to the substrate sheet made of a vinyl chloride resin to
prepare a patch, there is a disadvantage that an adhesion of the adhesive to the substrate
sheet is inferior.
[0006] Moreover, when a transdermal patch has a substrate sheet formed of polyvinyl chloride
resin and contains a pharmaceutical agent which has a strong property of diffusion
and permeation, the pharmaceutical agent permeates and diffuses into the substrate
sheet as well so that the substrate sheet is swollen and deteriorated. In some cases,
the desired therapeutic effect is reduced. It is of course possible that an appropriate
primer treatment is applied to the sheet of the vinyl chloride resin so that the affinity
for the block copolymer of a diene type is improved. However, in that case, the plasticizer
contained in the vinyl chloride resin sheet transfers to the adhesive layer so that
the property of the adhesive is deteriorated.
[0007] Under such circumstances, the present inventors had already found that, when a soft
vinyl resin film containing a plasticizer is adhered to a polyethylene terephthalate
film to prepare a composite film and an adhesive layer comprising a block copolymer
of a diene type containing a pharmaceutical agent is formed on the side of the polyethylene
terephthalate film of the composite film, the polyethylene terephthalate functions
as a barrier layer for the plasticizer and the pharmaceutical agent. Thus, there is
neither transfer of the pharmaceutical agent to the substrate sheet nor transfer of
the plasticizer to the adhesive layer.
[0008] However, even in such a transdermal patch, the plasticizer contained in the film
of the vinyl chloride resin bleeds onto its surface resulting in stickiness of the
surface. In addition, when the composite film is wound up in a roll, such a bleeding
of the plasticizer onto the surface of the vinyl chloride resin film transfers to
the polyethylene terephthalate film so that adhesion of the adhesive containing the
pharmaceutical agent to the polyethylene terephthalate film becomes low.
[0009] In view of the above and for coping with the above-mentioned problems in the known
transdermal patches, the present inventors proposed a transdermal patch in
JP-A-5-65486 where polyethylene terephthalate film is adhered and layered to a film formed of
a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite (which may contain a polyester plasticizer)
to prepare a substrate sheet and an adhesive layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene
block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent is formed on the side of the polyethylene
terephthalate film of the substrate sheet.
[0010] In such a transdermal patch, the polyethylene terephthalate film functions as an
effective barrier layer both to the plasticizer and the pharmaceutical agent. Accordingly,
neither transfer of the pharmaceutical agent to the substrate sheet nor transfer of
the plasticizer to the adhesive layer takes place. In addition, stickiness of the
surface by bleeding of the plasticizer onto the film surface does not occur and, texture
and fitting to skin are good as well.
[0011] However, when the composite film of polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite, which
is a main constituent of the substrate sheet of the transdermal patch, is manufactured
by a calendar process of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite, the composite
has not good calendar processing property, but it forms such a film on the rolls which
is often hardly removed from the rolls, whereupon not only the yield is poor but also
the resulting film has poor gloss or luster whereby the commercial value is reduced.
[0012] Further, when the resulting polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite film is stored
in a rolled state during the manufacturing steps for the transdermal patch of the
invention, the so-called "blocking" where the film sticks each other occurs. Therefore,
in the manufacture of a transdermal patch by pulling out (i.e., by rewinding) the
polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite film from the roll followed by subjecting
to various processes thereto, a lot of inconveniences are resulted whereby its smooth
manufacture is disturbed.
[0013] As a further point, when a polyethylene terephthalate film is adhered to the polyvinyl
chloride-polyurethane composite film to prepare a substrate sheet and an adhesive
layer containing a pharmaceutical agent is formed on the surface of the substrate
sheet to prepare a transdermal patch, adhesion between the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite film and the polyethylene terephthalate film is not sufficient and various
inconveniences are unavoidable. For example, when such a patch is applied to and then
removed from the skin, the adhesive layer is detached from the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite film together with the polyethylene terephthalate film remaining on the
skin whereby the so-called "residual paste" (the first residual paste) is resulted.
In addition, interlayer detachment may occur in the substrate sheet during storage
whereby the commercial value of the product is significantly deteriorated.
[0014] Moreover, adhesion between the adhesive layer and the substrate sheet is weak. Thus,
when such a patch is applied to and then removed from the skin, the "residual paste"
(the second residual paste) may also take place.
[0015] In order to solve the latter one in the above-mentioned problems or in order to improve
the adhesion between the adhesive layer and the substrate sheet, it is possible, as
described in
JP-A-6-35381, that various primers are applied onto the polyethylene terephthalate film so that
the substrate and the adhesive are strongly adhered. However, some pharmaceutical
agents may result in an undesirable interaction with the primers whereby the primer
layer and the adhesive layer turn yellow or other color. That significantly lower
the commercial value of the product as well.
[0016] JP6287134 A discloses a plaster sheet for skin prepared by laminating a vinyl chloride resin
film to a polyethylene terephthalate film, successively forming 1st and 2nd primer
layers on the surface of the polyethylene terephthalate layer of the obtained composite
film and forming a tacky adhesive layer composed of a styrene-diene-styrene block
copolymer and containing an agent on the primer layers. The 1 st primer layer is composed
of a composition produced by compounding a polyurethane having OH terminals with a
saturated polyester resin, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a chlorinated rubber
and fine powder of anhydrous silica.
[0017] The present invention has been completed for solving the above-mentioned various
problems in the conventional transdermal patches. Accordingly, it is an object of
the invention to provide a sticky transdermal patch in which a pharmaceutical agent
does not transfer to the substrate sheet, adhesion of the adhesive with the substrate
is strong, films which constitute the substrate sheet, that is, a layered film, strongly
adhere each other, any of the above-mentioned first and second residual pastes does
not occur when the product is applied to and then removed from the skin, stickiness
on the surface is not noted, and texture, smoothness and fitting to skin are all excellent.
[0018] It is a further object of the invention to provide a substrate sheet for such a transdermal
patch.
[0019] It is still an object of the invention to provide a method for manufacturing such
a substrate sheet.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The transdermal patch in accordance with the present invention comprises: a substrate
sheet which comprises a composite film formed of a resin composition comprising 100
parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and 2-10 parts by weight
of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, a first adhesive layer on the one
side of the composite film, and a polyalkylene terephthalate film adhered to said
one side of the composite film by means of the first adhesive layer; a primer layer
which comprises a saturated polyester resin and is formed on the surface of the polyalkylene
terephthalate film; and a second adhesive layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene
block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent layered on the primer.
[0021] The substrate sheet for a transdermal patch in accordance with the invention comprises
a composite film formed of a resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a
polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and 2-10 parts by weight of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
copolymer, an adhesive layer on the one side of the composite film, and a polyalkylene
terephthalate film adhered to said one side of the composite film by means of the
adhesive layer.
[0022] The method for the manufacture of the substrate sheet for a transdermal patch in
accordance with the invention comprises preparing a resin composition comprising 100
parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and 2-10 parts by weight
of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, molding the resin composition into
a composite film by means of a calendar process, and then adhering a polyalkylene
terephthalate film on one side of the composite film by means of an adhesive layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023]
Fig. 1 is a cross section showing a basic example of the substrate sheet for the transdermal
patch in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section showing a preferred example of the substrate sheet for the
transdermal patch in accordance with the invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross section showing an example of the transdermal patch in accordance
with the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the substrate sheet (4) for the transdermal patch in accordance
with the present invention is basically formed by adhesion of a polyalkylene terephthalate
film (3) by means of an adhesive layer (first adhesive layer) (2) to one side of a
composite film (1) formed of a resin composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer.
[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Fig. 2, the substrate
sheet (4) of the invention comprises a composite film (1) having a polyalkylene terephthalate
film (3) adhered to one side of the composite film (1) with an adhesive layer (2),
and a primer layer (5) which comprises a saturated polyester resin and is formed on
the outer surface of the polyalkylene terephthalate film, while a back treating layer
(6) is formed on the other side of the composite film.
[0026] As shown in Fig. 3, the transdermal patch (8) in accordance with the invention comprises
a substrate sheet (4) which comprises a composite film (4), a first adhesive layer
(2) on one side of the composite film, and a polyalkylene terephthalate film (3) adhered
to said one side of the composite film by means of the adhesive layer; a primer layer
(5) which comprises a saturated polyester resin and is formed on the outer surface
of the polyalkylene terephthalate film; and a second adhesive layer (7) comprising
a styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent layered
on the primer. A back treating layer (6) is formed on the other side of the composite
film.
[0027] It is preferred that the transdermal patch of the invention is translucent having
a light transmittance of about 20-50% so that its appearance upon application by sticking
to the skin is good.
[0028] The substrate sheet of the invention is a layered film composed of a composite film
formed of a resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite and 2-10 parts by weight of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer
and a polyalkylene terephthalate film adhered by means of an adhesive to the composite
film.
[0029] As described in
JP-A-1-185312, the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite may be prepared by impregnating powdery
polyvinyl chloride with polyurethane-forming materials, followed by subjecting the
resulting mixture to a polyurethane producing reaction.
[0030] The polyurethane-forming materials comprise a polyisocyanate and a polyol together
with, if necessary, a catalyst. The polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite may
be prepared as a powdery product by mixing the above-mentioned polyurethane-forming
materials and either by impregnating a powdery polyvinyl chloride with the resulting
liquid mixture of the polyurethane-forming materials (together with a catalyst if
necessary) or by impregnating the powdery polyvinyl chloride with a polyol and then
with a polyisocyanate (and a catalyst if necessary), followed by heating and cooling
the resulting mixture upon completion of the reaction.
[0031] In the manufacture of such a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite, the powdery
polyvinyl chloride may be previously compounded, if necessary, with a stabilizer such
as calcium-zinc stabilizer, calcium stearate, zinc stearate or tris(nonylphenyl) phosphite,
as well as a lubricant, a coloring agent, and the like. Alternatively, a stabilizer,
lubricant, coloring agent, etc. may be compounded if necessary after the manufacture
of polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite.
[0032] In the manufacture of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite, a polyisocyanate
is usually used in such an amount that the molar ratio of isocyanate group (NCO)/hydroxyl
group (OH) is within a range of from 0.5 to 2.0 while a polyol is usually used in
such an amount of 10-150 parts by weight or, preferably, 20-100 parts by weight to
100 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride.
[0033] Accordingly, the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite is a kind of mixture (a
blend) of polyvinyl chloride with the polyurethane obtained by the reaction of the
polyisocyanate with the polyol in the presence of polyvinyl chloride. The polyvinyl
chloride-polyurethane composite prepared in this manner is then kneaded, made into
pellets and molded into film by an extruder equipped with T die whereupon a polyvinyl
chloride-polyurethane composite film is prepared.
[0034] It is preferred that the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite has a Shore A
hardness (23°C) of within a range of 40-90 so that the sheet substrate resulted therefrom
has both good flexibility and strength as a substrate sheet for the transdermal patch.
Such a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite is commercially available as, for
example, "Dominas" from Tosoh K.K. In the present invention, such a commercially available
product may be appropriately used.
[0035] According to the invention, the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite prepared
as such and the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer are then kneaded using
rolls and the resulting resin composition is made into film by any means for use as
a composite film for the manufacture of a substrate film. For example, the resin composition
may be kneaded, made into pellets and then molded into film by an extruder equipped
with T die to give a composite film for preparing the substrate sheet. However, as
will be mentioned later, the resin composition is made into film preferably by means
of a calendar molding so that the resulting film having excellent precision in thickness
can be prepared in a good productivity and in a low cost.
[0036] As described in "
Plastics", volume 34, number 8, pages 29-35 (1983), for example, a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer is a block copolymer
having a structure of A-EB-A in which A is a block of glassy or hard non-elastic thermoplastic
polymer consisting of ethylene while EB is a block of an elastic polymer consisting
of ethylene and butylene. Such a block copolymer is sold as Kraton G1650, 1652 and
1657 (all manufactured by Shell Kagaku K.K.) and can be easily available.
[0037] As mentioned above, the substrate film in the present invention is a layered film
composed of a composite film formed of a resin composition comprising 100 parts by
weight of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and 2-10 parts by weight of
a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer and a polyalkylene terephthalate film
adhered with an adhesive to a composite film.
[0038] It is preferred that the above-mentioned adhesive is a polyurethane adhesive or,
particularly, that of a two-component type which is particularly capable of adhering
a polyalkylene terephthalate film with the composite film strongly. Various types
of polyurethane adhesive have been known already (e.g., "
Handbook of Polyurethane Resins" edited by Keiji Iwata, pages 438-474, published by
Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha, 1992) and various kinds of products are commercially available as well. In the invention,
such commercially available products may be preferably used.
[0039] According to the invention, the resin composition comprises 2-10 parts by weight
of a styrene- ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer per 100 parts by weight of
a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite. This is the reason that the resin composition
provides a composite film without a problem of undesirable adhesion of film to rolls
in the calendar process. Thus, the manufacture of the composite film by a calendar
process is made easy according to the invention. In addition, a problem of blocking
upon storage of the composite film manufactured by a calendar process in a rolled
state as such can be also solved.
[0040] Moreover, as mentioned already, since the composite film is composed of a polyvinyl
chloride-polyurethane composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer,
a strong adhesion can be achieved between the composite film and the polyethylene
terephthalate film. Accordingly, when the transdermal patch of the invention is applied
to and then removed from the skin, it is free from such an inconvenience that the
adhesive layer is detached from the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite film
together with the polyalkylene terephthalate film. That is, there is no problem of
the above-mentioned first residual paste where both of them remain on the skin.
[0041] According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that 2-8 parts by weight
of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer are compounded with 100 parts
by weight of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite.
[0042] When the amount of the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer in the resin composition
is less than 2 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite, it is not possible to afford a strong adhesion between the composite film
of the resin composition and the polyalkylene terephthalate film in the preparation
of a substrate film by adhesion and layering of those films using a polyurethane adhesive.
[0043] On the other hand, when the amount of the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer
in the resin composition is more than 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of
the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite, the calendar process of the resin composition
becomes bad. Thus, the roll lubricity becomes rather strong and the bank does not
smoothly rotate whereby the manufacture of the film is disturbed. The precision of
the thickness of the resulting film also lowers.
[0044] In the manufacture of a substrate sheet by adhesion of the composite film with a
polyalkylene terephthalate film using a polyurethane adhesive, it is preferred that
a polyurethane adhesive of a two-component type is applied to the polyalkylene terephthalate
film, dried, and subjected to a dry lamination to the composite film which has been
previously heated.
[0045] It is particularly preferred that a polyurethane adhesive of a two-component type
containing around 25-50% of solid is applied on a polyalkylene terephthalate film
to an extent of 8-16 g/m
2 (around 2.0-8.0 g/m
2 in terms of the solid), dried to make the thickness of the adhesive after drying
around 1.0-8.0 µm or, preferably, around 1.5-5.0 µm and subjected to a dry lamination
to a previously heated composite film.
[0046] According to the invention, the composite film is composed of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer as mentioned above and,
therefore, it is possible to give a strong adhesion between the composite film and
the alkylene terephthalate film by the use of a polyurethane adhesive. In addition,
the substrate sheet and, accordingly, the resulting transdermal patch prepared therefrom
are soft and flexible whereby, upon application to skin, the sheet well fits the skin
resulting in no feeling of incompatibility.
[0047] The resin composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and
a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer may contain a high molecular weight
plasticizer having an average molecular weight of 1000-10000 so that the resulting
film has good texture and fitting to the skin, as well as the resultant substrate
sheet neither warps nor curvatures upon application to the skin. However, when the
resin composition contains such a plasticizer too much, it bleeds on the film surface.
It is necessary that the amount of the plasticizer is within a range of up to 30 parts
by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite
[0048] As the above-mentioned high molecular weight plasticizer, a polyester plasticizer
is particularly preferred. A polyester plasticizer is a viscous and linear polyester
having an average molecular weight of about 1000-10000 obtained by a condensation
polymerization of a dibasic acid such as adipic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid,
or phthalic acid, with a glycol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or 1,3-butylene
glycol. Preferred specific examples are polypropylene adipate (a polyester consisting
of adipic acid and propylene glycol) and polypropylene sebacate (a polyester consisting
of sebacic acid and propylene glycol).
[0049] However, even in the case of use of a high molecular weight plasticizer, when the
substrate sheet composed of a composite film formed of such a resin composition containing
the plasticizer and a polyalkylene terephthalate film adhered thereto is stored in
a rolled state in an environment of high temperature for a long period (e.g., for
three months or longer in summer), before a primer comprising a saturated polyester
resin is coated and formed on the surface of the polyalkylene terephthalate film and
an adhesive layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer containing a
pharmaceutical agent is layered on the primer layer, it now happens that the high
molecular weight plasticizer is transferred to the back (i.e., to the surface of the
primer layer). Accordingly, even when an adhesive layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene
block copolymer is layered on such a primer layer, it is sometimes impossible to achieve
a strong adhesion between the substrate sheet and the adhesive layer.
[0050] Therefore, it is preferred even for a high molecular weight plasticizer that the
amount thereof to the resin composition is 10 parts by weight at the highest per 100
parts by weight of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite. However, it is most
preferred that, even in the case of a high molecular weight plasticizer, such a plasticizer
is not compounded with the resin composition.
[0051] It is preferred that the thickness of the composite film formed of a resin composition
of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
copolymer is within a range of 50-150 µm so that no incompatible feeling is recognized
when applied to the skin. When it is too thin, the strength is not practically sufficient
while, when it is too thick, the sheet is apt to be detached after applying to the
skin.
[0052] It is further preferred that the composite film contains an appropriate amount of
a stabilizer of a so-called non-toxic type. Preferred examples of such stabilizes
include calcium-zinc type one which has been well known as a stabilizer for a vinyl
chloride resin already although a usable stabilizer is not particularly limited thereto
so far as it is of a non-toxic type.
[0053] The composite film may further contain inorganic fine particles, particularly fine
powder of anhydrous silica or nepheline syenite, having an average particle size range
of 3-10 µm as a filler so far as a transparency of the film is not deteriorated. Particularly
when such a filler is contained in the composite film, it is now possible to prepare
a composite film wherein pulling out (i.e., rewinding in a rewinding step) of the
composite film from a roll is easy or, in other words, unrolling ability of the composite
film from a roll (i.e., anti-blocking) is excellent even when the ratio of the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
copolymer to the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite in the resin composition
is made relatively small.
[0054] When the ratio of the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer to the polyvinyl
chloride-polyurethane composite is made high, there is a tendency that the gelling
property of the resin composition at the manufacture of the composite film by a calendar
process becomes low but, when the above-mentioned filler is used, such a problem can
be avoided.
[0055] It is in particular preferred that the refractive index of the filler used is as
near as possible to that of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite so that
the resulting transdermal patch becomes translucent. In view of this, it is preferred
to use nepheline syenite having a refractive index of 1.53. Such a filler is usually
used within a range of 5-30 parts by weight or, preferably, 5-20 parts by weight to
100 parts by weight of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite.
[0056] The composite film may, if necessary, contain appropriate amounts of additives such
as pigment, antioxidant, light stabilizer, flame retardant, antistatic agent, ultraviolet
absorber, antifungal, or lubricant.
[0057] The resin composition may further contain polyvinyl chloride when it is formed into
a composite film. However, when the resin composition contains polyvinyl chloride
too much, the resulting composite film has bad fitting to the skin. Therefore, the
amount of polyvinyl chloride is within a range of up to 30 parts by weight per 100
parts by weight of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite.
[0058] The polyalkylene terephthalate film used in the invention includes a polyethylene
terephthalate film or a polybutylene terephthalate film and, preferably, a polyethylene
terephthalate film. It is preferred that the polyalkylene terephthalate film has a
thickness of not more than 10 µm. When the thickness of the polyalkylene terephthalate
film is more than 10 µm, the resulting transdermal patch is hard and its texture and
fitting to the skin are significantly bad. A polyethylene terephthalate film having
a thickness of 3-5 µm, for example, is used particularly preferably.
[0059] It is further preferred that the polyethylene terephthalate film used has a breaking
strength (in a longitudinal direction) of within a range of 245-343 10
6N/m
2 (25-35 kgf/mm
2) and a 2% (longitudinal) modulus (tensile strength) of within a range of 73.5-93.2
10
6N/m
2 (7.5-9.5 kgf/mm
2). For example, a polyethylene terephthalate film having, for example, a thickness
of 3.5 µm, a breaking strength of 288.3 10
6N/m
2 (29.4 kgf/mm
2) and a 2% modulus of 84.3 10
6N/m
2 (8.6 kgf/mm
2) is used very suitably.
[0060] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the substrate sheet has a back treating
layer on a composite film. A primer layer which comprises a saturated polyester resin
is formed on a polyalkylene terephthalate film of such a substrate sheet and a styrene-diene-styrene
block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent is layered and adhered onto the
primer layer, thereby providing a transdermal patch according to the invention.
[0061] The back treating layer is preferably composed of a coat having a thickness of about
0.5-2 µm comprising a polyurethane resin compounded with fine powder of silica. When
its surface is embossed or, preferably, when it is made into the so-called silky embossed
surface, surface of the resulting transdermal patch is delustered and is given with
a skin-like touch and appearance whereby its feel upon application and design can
be improved. The back treating layer is useful also for improving the unrolling ability
when the substrate sheet is stored in a rolled state.
[0062] Incidentally, the primer layer comprises a saturated polyester resin. This saturated
polyester resin can be manufactured by a condensation polymerization of an aromatic
dicarboxylic acid (such as terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid or a mixture thereof)
or its mixture with an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid (such as adipic acid, sebacic acid
or a mixture thereof) with a saturated aliphatic diol (such as ethylene glycol, neopentyl
glycol, 1,4-cyclohexanediol or a mixture thereof) by a conventional method.
[0063] It is preferred that such a saturated polyester resin has a molecular weight within
a range of 15000-20000. Such a saturated polyester resin is commercially available.
In the invention, such a commercially available product can be appropriately used.
[0064] Such a saturated polyester is dissolved in an appropriate organic solvent (such as
toluene) to prepare a primer and that is applied on the surface of a polyalkylene
terephthalate film followed by drying to give a primer layer. The thickness of the
primer layer is preferably within a range of 1-5 µm. When the thickness of the primer
layer is too thin, a desired strong adhesion is not achieved while, when it is too
thick, the primer layer is hard and the softness and flexibility which are needed
for the resulting transdermal patch are deteriorated. The primer layer is composed
of a saturated polyester resin and is inactive to a pharmaceutical agent so that color
of the adhesive layer adjacent to the primer layer is not changed.
[0065] It is usual in the invention that a composite film and a polyalkylene terephthalate
film are adhered by a polyurethane adhesive by means of a dry lamination to prepare
a substrate sheet, then a back treating layer is formed on the composite film, and
a primer layer is formed on the polyalkylene terephthalate film. However, it is also
possible that both back treating layer and primer layer are simultaneously formed
on the substrate sheet.
[0066] When a primer layer is formed on the substrate sheet and a back treating layer is
also formed thereon as such, blocking upon storage of the substrate sheet after winding
on a roll can be prevented and the substrate sheet can be easily rewound from the
roll upon necessity. When an adhesive layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene block
copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent is placed on the primer layer of the substrate
layer rewound from the roll as such, it is possible to prepare a transdermal patch
where the adhesive layer is strongly adhered to the substrate sheet.
[0067] The transdermal patch according to the invention has an adhesive layer comprising
a styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent of which
thickness is usually within a range of 50-200 µm. When the thickness of the adhesive
layer is less than 50 µm, adhesion to the skin is weak and is not practical while,
when it is more than 200 µm, a cohesive force of the adhesive layer lowers whereupon
residual paste on the skin may be resulted upon peeling off from the skin. When it
is too thick, the resulting transdermal patch becomes undesirably opaque.
[0068] Specific examples of the styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer which constitutes
the adhesive layer in the invention are a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer
and a styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer. Such a styrene-diene-styrene block
copolymer may be used as an adhesive either solely or jointly as a mixture thereof.
In addition, the adhesive may contain various additives such as plasticizer, tackifier
resin, filler or aging preventer, including polyisobutylene, rosin-modified resin,
hydrogenated rosin ester, liquid paraffin, and the like.
[0069] A styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer has been known already as, for example, described
in detail in the above-mentioned
JP-A-54-138124. When A is defined as a glassy or hard non-elastic thermoplastic polymer block consisting
of styrene and B is defined as an elastic polymer block of conjugated diene such as
butadiene or isoprene, the styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer is a block copolymer
having a structure of A-B-A in which the block A occupies 10-50% by weight of the
total weight of the polymer. Such a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer is commercially
available as, for example, Cariflex TR 1101 or TR 1102, while such a styrene-isoprene-styrene
block copolymer is commercially available as, for example, Cariflex TR 1107 (all manufactured
by Shell Kagaku K.K.).
[0070] There is no particular limitation for the method of laminating the adhesive layer
containing a pharmaceutical agent on the substrate sheet. For example, an adhesive
layer containing a pharmaceutical agent is melted and applied on a substrate sheet.
Alternatively, a pharmaceutical agent is dissolved in an appropriate solvent together
with an adhesive and applied on a substrate sheet followed by drying.
[0071] One specific example is that a primer layer is formed on a substrate sheet while
a styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer is compounded, if necessary, with appropriate
additives, then heated, melted and cooled, a pharmaceutical agent is added thereto
and mixed therewith to homogenize and the mixture is applied on a releasing paper
and stuck together with the above-prepared substrate sheet.
[0072] There is no particular limitation for the pharmaceutical agent used in the invention
so far as it can be absorbed from the skin. Its examples include local stimulant,
anti-inflammatory agent, analgesic, agent acting to central nervous system (such as
hypnotic, sedative, antiepileptic, and agent for psychoneurosis), diuretic, blood
pressure depressant, coronary vasodilator, antitussive, expectorant, antiallergic
agent, antiarrhythmicagent, cardiovascular agent, sex hormone, adrenocortical hormone,
local anesthetic, and antifungal agent. Such pharmaceutical agents may be used either
solely or jointly by combining two or more of them.
[0073] To be more specific, examples of local stimulant, anti-inflammatory agent and analgesic
are salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, salicylic acid glycol, L-menthol, peppermint
oil, thymol, etc.
[0074] Amount of the pharmaceutical agent in the adhesive layer depends upon the type of
the agent used and is not particularly limited as well. Usually, however, it is within
a range of 1-25 % by weight or, preferably, 5-20 % by weight.
[0075] A polyalkylene terephthalate film has a high affinity for a primer comprising a saturated
polyester resin and the primer has a high affinity for an adhesive comprising a styrene-diene-styrene
block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical agent as well. Therefore, a strong adhesion
is available between the adhesive layer and the polyalkylene terephthalate film and,
therefore, also between the adhesive layer and the substrate sheet. Thus, when the
product of the invention is applied to and then removed from the skin, the hereinbefore
mentioned second residual paste does not occur. In addition, the primer is inactive
to the pharmaceutical agent and hence it does not change the color of the adhesive
layer.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0076] As described above, the sticky transdermal patch of the invention comprises a composite
film formed of a resin composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite
and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer, and a polyalkylene terephthalate
film adhered using a first adhesive or, preferably, a polyurethane adhesive on one
side of the composite film; a primer layer which comprises a saturated polyester resin
and is formed on the surface of the polyalkylene terephthalate film and a second adhesive
layer comprising a styrene-diene-styrene block copolymer containing a pharmaceutical
agent laminated on the primer layer.
[0077] Therefore, a polyalkylene terephthalate film and a composite film are strongly adhered
by the first adhesive (preferably, by a polyurethane adhesive) whereby, under any
environment or under any applying condition, an interlayer detachment does not take
place. Especially when it is applied to and then removed from the skin, the hereinbefore
mentioned first residual paste, i.e. a phenomenon where the adhesive layer is detached
from the composite film together with the polyethylene terephthalate film, does not
occur.
[0078] In addition, the polyalkylene terephthalate film of the substrate sheet and the adhesive
are strongly adhered by a primer comprising the saturated polyester resin. Therefore,
there is no hereinbefore mentioned second residual paste when the transdermal patch
is applied to and removed from the skin. Moreover, the primer comprises a saturated
polyester resin and hence it is inactive to a pharmaceutical agent and does not result
in an undesirable color change in the adhesive layer or the primer layer.
[0079] Further, in the transdermal patch in accordance with the invention, the resin composition
constituting the surface of the substrate sheet is a film which is mainly composed
of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite. Therefore, texture, smoothness and
fitting to skin which are all essential as a transdermal patch are excellent. Besides,
when a plasticizer is not compounded with the composite film or a compounding amount
is reduced, stickiness of the surface due to a bleeding of the plasticizer onto the
surface of the composite film does not take place and the feeling on use is excellent.
[0080] The transdermal patch in accordance with the invention is translucent and, especially
when the back treating layer is made in a form of a delustered polyurethane resin
coat by subjecting the surface to a silk-like embossing, the appearance looks like
skin and the feeling upon application and the design of the product are excellent.
[0081] It should be also noted that when a primer layer is formed on the substrate sheet
followed by storing in a rolled state even for a long period, the plasticizer does
not bleed to the back (a primer layer). Thus, the adhesive layer can be strongly adhered,
as advantageous form the viewpoint of its manufacture.
[0082] As a further point, when the resin composition comprising a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane
composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer contains the latter within
a predetermined rate, a strong adhesion to the polyalkylene terephthalate film by
means of a polyurethane adhesive can be maintained while good calendar processing
ability (i.e., a molding ability to film) can be secured as well and, further, even
after allowing to stand in a rolled state, no bleeding of the plasticizer to the back
(a primer layer) takes place and the adhesive layer can be strongly adhered.
[0083] It goes without saying in the present invention that there is a polyalkylene terephthalate
film at the side of the adhesive layer containing a pharmaceutical agent and the polyalkylene
terephthalate layer functions as an effective barrier layer to diffusion and permeation
of the pharmaceutical agent to the composite film. Thus, even when the pharmaceutical
agent has a strong diffusing and permeating property, no pharmaceutical agent is diffused
and permeated into the composite film. Even when the composite film contains a plasticizer,
diffusion and permeation of the plasticizer to the adhesive layer can be inhibited.
EXAMPLES
[0084] The present invention will now be further illustrated by way of the following Examples
and Comparative Examples. As mentioned already, the amount of a pharmaceutical agent
in an adhesive layer is usually very small. Therefore, in this specification, an adhesive
containing no pharmaceutical agent is melted and applied to a substrate sheet and
dried and the adhesive sheet prepared thereby is used in the examples of the invention
where the characteristics of the adhesive sheet are used as the substantial characteristics
of the transdermal patch.
[0085] That is, the adhesion between the composite film and the polyethylene terephthalate
film in the substrate sheet is not related to pharmaceutical agents, and, moreover,
in the transdermal patch, the effect of a pharmaceutical agent contained in the adhesive
sheet has been well known already. Under such circumstances, in the transdermal patch
mentioned hereinafter, the adhesive layer comprised of an styrene-diene-styrene block
copolymer without pharmaceutical agent was melted and applied onto a substrate sheet
to form an adhesive layer, the resulting adhesive sheet manufactured as such was applied
to the skin, and the residual paste and the fitting upon detachment were checked.
Adhesion between the composite film and the polyethylene terephthalate film in the
substrate sheet was measured as well.
Examples 1-5 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2.
[0086] First, the components as shown in Table 1 were used to prepare a resin composition
composed of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
copolymer, made into a film (composite film) by a calendar process, and the gelling
property (roll processing property) of the resin composition in the calendar molding
was checked by the following method. The result is shown in Table 1. Then a polyethylene
terephthalate film was adhered to the composite film by a dry lamination to prepare
a substrate sheet and the adhesion between the layers in the substrate sheet was checked
by the following method.
Gelling Property of the Resin Composition (Roll Processing Property):
[0087] When a resin composition in which a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite was
compounded with a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer was subjected to a roll
processing, the case where it was easily and sufficiently gelled was ranked (A), the
case where the gelling was partially insufficient although there was no problem in
forming a film by a calendar process was ranked (B), and the case where the gelling
was insufficient and the film obtained by a calendar process had significant unevenness
on the surface and has pinholes as well was ranked (C).
Interlayer Adhesion in the Substrate Sheet:
[0088] A polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite was compounded with a predetermined amount
of a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer and subjected to a calendar molding
to give a composite film having a thickness of 70 µm. In the meanwhile, a polyurethane
adhesive (of a two-component type) was applied to a polyethylene terephthalate film
having a thickness of 50 µm to such an extent that the dry thickness of the adhesive
became 2.0 µm, dried by heating at 110°C for two minutes, and subjected to a dry lamination
to the above-prepared composite film followed by aging at ambient temperature for
24 hours.
[0089] The resulting layered film was cut in a size of 19 mm X 180 mm to give test pieces.
A 180° peeling adhesion was measured for the pieces at the tensile rate of 300 mm/minute
using an automatic tensile tester of an AGC type. The result was that, when the compounding
amounts of the styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer to 100 parts by weight
of the polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite were 0.5 and 10 part(s) by weight,
the 180° peeling adhesions were 360, 580 and 730 g/19 mm, respectively.
[0090] Then, the compoundings as shown in Table 1 were used and a composite film composed
of a polyvinyl chloride-polyurethane composite and a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene
copolymer having a thickness of 80 µm was manufactured by a calendar method. The film
was wound to a roll and the unrolling ability (blocking property) upon rewinding from
this roll was checked by the method which will be mentioned later.
[0091] Then a polyurethane adhesive (of a two-component type) was applied to a polyethylene
terephthalate film having a thickness of 3.5 µm and dried to form a polyurethane adhesive
layer having a thickness of 2.0 µm and said layer was subjected to a dry lamination
to the previously heated above-mentioned composite film to adhere the polyethylene
terephthalate film to the composite film.
[0092] Thereafter, a saturated polyester resin (Baylon 20SS manufactured by Toyo Boseki
K.K.; containing 20% of solid) was applied to the side of polyethylene terephthalate
film of the laminated product of composite film with polyethylene terephthalate film
and dried to give a primer layer. Then, an adhesive composed of a styrene-butadiene-styrene
block copolymer was melted and applied onto the primer layer to form an adhesive layer
whereupon sticky patches of Examples and of Comparative Examples were obtained.
[0093] Each of those sticking patches was tested in terms of residual paste (i.e., adhesion
of the adhesive with the polyethylene terephthalate film) and of fitting to the skin.
The result is given in Table 1. The methods for evaluation of the test items were
as follows.
Blocking Property:
[0094] When the force for pulling out a composite film having a width of 45 cm at a take
up rate of 8 m/minute was less than 1 kg/45 cm and the film was able to be easily
pulled out, that was ranked (A); when said force was within a range of 1-3 kg/45 cm
and the film was able to be pulled out without substantial problems, it was ranked
(B); and when said force was more than 3 kg/45 cm and the film was easily broken upon
pulling out, it was ranked (C).
Residual Paste:
[0095] An adhesive sheet stamped out in a size of 5 cm X 5 cm was applied on a skin which
was previously wiped with alcohol, rubbed by hand for several times and detached,
and the residue of the adhesive on the skin was evaluated. "A" stands for that there
was no residual paste; "B" stands for that there was partial residual paste and that
the residual paste was particularly noted at the edges of the sheet (5% or less);
and "C" stands for that 5% or more of the adhesive remained on the skin.
Fitting to the Skin:
[0096] A sheet was placed on the back of the hand and its following, close contact, fitting,
folding, etc. were judged by naked eye and touch by hand to conduct a total evaluation.
"A" stands for that the sheet well followed along the back of the hand and close contact,
fitting and adaptability to skin were good; "B" stands for that a bit hard touch was
noted although there was no practical problem; and "C" stands for that the sheet was
hard and there was no practical value.
TABLE 1
| |
Examples |
Comparative Examples |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
| Formulation of Composite Film (parts by weight) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Polyvinyl Chloride-Polyurethane Composite |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shore A Hardness: 90 |
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
|
| Shore A Hardness: 80 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
| Shore A Hardness: 55 |
100 |
100 |
|
|
100 |
100 |
100 |
| SEBS1) |
2 |
8 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
15 |
| Stabilizer2) |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Nepheline Syenite3) |
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
| Evaluation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Gelling Property (Roll Processing Ability) |
A |
B |
B |
A |
A |
A |
C |
| Blocking Property of Composite Film |
B |
A |
A |
A |
AA |
C |
A |
| Interlayer Adhesion of Substrate Sheet |
420 |
730 |
510 |
550 |
420 |
390 |
890 |
| (g/19 mm) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Residual Paste |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
| Fitting to Skin |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
A |
1) Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene Block Copolymer
2) Stabilizer of Calcium-Zinc Type
3) Minex 7 Manufactured by Shiraishi Kogyo K.K. (average particle size: 4.5 µm; refractive
index: 1.53 |
1. Transdermales Pflaster, das Folgendes umfasst: eine Substratschicht, die eine Verbundfolie
umfasst, die aus einer Harzzusammensetzung besteht, die 100 Gewichtsteile eines Polyvinylchlorid-Polyurethan-Verbundstoffs
und 2-10 Gewichtsteile eines Styrol-Ethylen-Butylen-Styrol-Copolymers umfasst, eine
erste Klebstofflage auf der einen Seite der Verbundfolie und eine Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie,
die mithilfe der ersten Klebstofflage an die genannte eine Seite der Verbundfolie
geklebt ist; eine Grundierungslage, die ein gesättigtes Polyesterharz umfasst und
auf der Oberfläche der Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie ausgebildet ist; und eine zweite
Klebstofflage, die ein Styrol-Dien-Styrol-Blockcopolymer mit einem Pharmazeutikum
umfasst, die auf die Grundierungslage geschichtet ist.
2. Transdermales Pflaster nach Anspruch 1, wobei die erste Klebstofflage einen Polyurethanklebstoff
umfasst und eine Dicke von 1,0 - 7,0 µm hat.
3. Transdermales Pflaster nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie eine
Polyethylenterephthalatfolie ist.
4. Substratschicht zur Verwendung in einem transdermalen Pflaster, umfassend eine Verbundfolie,
die aus einer Harzzusammensetzung besteht, die 100 Gewichtsteile eines Polyvinylchlorid-Polyurethan-Verbundstoffs
und 2-10 Gewichtsteile eines Styrol-Ethylen-Butylen-Copolymers umfasst, eine Klebstofflage
auf der einen Seite der Verbundfolie und eine Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie, die mithilfe
der Klebstofflage an die Verbundfolie geklebt ist.
5. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Harzzusammensetzung 5-30 Gewichtsteile
anorganischer feiner Partikel mit einer durchschnittlichen Partikelgröße von 3-10
µm je 100 Gewichtsteile eines Polyvinylchlorid-Polyurethan-Verbundstoffs enthält.
6. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 5, wobei die anorganischen feinen Partikel Nephelinsyenit
sind.
7. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Klebstofflage eine Lage mit einer Dicke
von 1,0-7,0 µm ist, die einen Polyurethanklebstoff umfasst.
8. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie eine Polyethylenterephthalatfolie
ist.
9. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 4, wobei sich auf der Oberfläche der Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie
eine Grundierungslage befindet, die ein gesättigtes Polyesterharz umfasst.
10. Substratschicht nach Anspruch 4, wobei sich auf der Oberfläche der Verbundfolie eine
Rückseitenbehandlungslage befindet, die eine Polyurethanharzbeschichtung umfasst und
eine geprägte Oberfläche aufweist.
11. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Substratschicht zur Verwendung in einem transdermalen
Pflaster, das die folgenden Schritte beinhaltet: Herstellen einer Harzzusammensetzung,
die 100 Gewichtsteile eines Polyvinylchlorid-Polyurethan-Verbundstoffs und 2-10 Gewichtsteile
eines Styrol-Ethylen-Butylen-Styrol-Copolymers umfasst, Formen der Harzzusammensetzung
zu einer Verbundfolie mit einem Kalanderprozess und dann Kleben einer Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie
auf eine Seite der Verbundfolie mithilfe einer Klebstofflage, wodurch die Substratschicht
gebildet wird, und Bilden einer Grundierungslage, die ein gesättigtes Polyesterharz
umfasst, auf der Außenfläche der Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Harzzusammensetzung 5-30 Gewichtsteile anorganischer
feiner Partikel mit einer durchschnittlichen Partikelgröße von 3-10 µm je 100 Gewichtsteile
eines Polyvinylchlorid-Polyurethan-Verbundstoffs enthält.
13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei die anorganischen feinen Partikel Nephelinsyenit
sind.
14. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Klebstofflage eine Lage ist, die einen Polyurethanklebstoff
umfasst und eine Dicke von 1,0-7,0 µm hat.
15. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei die Polyalkylenterephthalatfolie eine Polyethylenterephthalatfolie
ist.