UNAM develops cholesterol-lowering transdermal patch

Researchers at the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México abbreviated UNAM ) developed a transdermal patch that facilitates cholesterol and triglyceride reduction. For the innovative patch, UNAM researchers obtained the 2016 Technological Innovation Prize of the National Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry ( Cámara Nacional de la Industria Farmacéutica abbreviated CANIFARMA ).

The patch was developed in the Transdermal System Laboratory ( Laboratorio de Sistemas Transdérmicos ) of the Faculty of Higher Studies ( Facultad de Estudios Superiores abbreviated FES ) campus Cuautitlán. According to researcher Pablo Serrano Castañeda , dyslipidemia, associated with heart attacks, has increased among the population.

The transdermal patch has two release mechanisms, fast and slow and includes micro needles that pierce the skin and break the outer layer to release medicine into the bloodstream.

"In this way, the plasma levels are constant avoiding the ups and downs produced by oral medication," said Serrano Castañeda.

Unlike oral medication, doses released by the patch do not pass through the liver attenuating the symptoms of people suffering from ulcers and gastric or esophageal reflux.

The system is painless and the micro needles do not generate infectious biological waste , like the conventional hypodermic needles.

sg