# Advances in Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems for Antithrombotic Therapy: A Systematic Review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews transdermal drug delivery systems for antithrombotic therapy, highlighting their potential and current limitations.

## Contribution

The study systematically reviews transdermal delivery systems for antithrombotic drugs and identifies gaps in clinical research.

## Key findings

- Transdermal systems like microneedles and hydrogels are being explored for antithrombotic therapy.
- Few clinical trials on transdermal antithrombotic therapy have been conducted.
- Heparins and acetylsalicylic acid are the most studied drugs in transdermal formulations.

## Abstract

Thrombotic diseases,
classified as arterial or venous, remain one
of the most important global health concerns. Myocardial infarction,
ischemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE), which include deep
vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, are prominent causes of illness
and death. Antithrombotic agents, classified by their sites of action,
are essential for preventing and treating thrombus formation. Transdermal
drug delivery systems have emerged as promising alternatives for antithrombotic
therapy by improving drug bioavailability, patient adherence, and
therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. This systematic
review, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items
for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, identified
25 relevant articles through structured database searches. An additional
search in clinical trial registries revealed no ongoing or completed
clinical studies involving transdermal antithrombotic therapy. The
literature focuses on transdermal formulations of heparins and acetylsalicylic
acid, with fewer reports on direct oral anticoagulants and other agents.
The literature search revealed that the most investigated delivery
systems were microneedles (13), micro/nanoemulsions (2), ethosomes
(1), hydrogels (5), polymeric patches (3), and liposomes (1). The
ongoing interest in antithrombotic transdermal formulations highlights
both their therapeutic importance and the difficulties still associated
with traditional administration methods. While innovative transdermal
formulations show promise, further research is necessary to develop
scalable, effective, and cost-efficient technologies for clinical
applications.