# Impact of Monomer Selection and Behavior on Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems: Regulatory and Formulation Perspectives

**Authors:** Piyush Modi, Jigneshkumar Modasiya, Dhaval Desai

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104819 · Cureus · 2026-03-07

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how monomer choice affects the quality and performance of transdermal drug delivery systems and outlines regulatory requirements for monomer characterization.

## Contribution

The paper emphasizes the regulatory and formulation importance of monomer selection in transdermal drug delivery systems.

## Key findings

- Monomer selection significantly impacts drug release, adhesion, and mechanical properties of TDDS.
- Regulatory agencies require detailed monomer characterization for TDDS approval.
- Recent analytical techniques improve the assessment of residual monomers and polymer properties.

## Abstract

This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the main monomers used in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS), such as acrylates, methacrylates, polyethylene glycol acrylates, crosslinking monomers, and specialty monomers. It examines their impact on key quality attributes (critical quality attributes), including drug release kinetics, adhesion-cohesion balance, mechanical strength, and stability under thermal and humidity stress. The article also summarizes Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency requirements for monomer characterization in regulatory submissions, details analytical techniques for measuring residual monomers and analyzing the resulting polymers, and highlights recent developments in the regulatory landscape. Monomer selection is emphasized as a vital scientific and regulatory factor that influences TDDS quality, performance, and patient safety.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** NPEPPS (aminopeptidase puromycin sensitive) [NCBI Gene 9520] {aka AAP-S, MP100, PSA}
- **Diseases:** toxicity (MESH:D064420), allergic dermatoses (MESH:D012871), adhesion failure (MESH:D051437)
- **Chemicals:** lactide (MESH:C091880), BA (MESH:C032490), EA (MESH:C040833), Acrylates (MESH:D000179), PEG dimethacrylates (MESH:C421283), guanfacine (MESH:D016316), Methacrylate (MESH:D008689), Hydrogen (MESH:D006859), epoxide (MESH:D004852), pyrrolidone (MESH:D011760), PEG methacrylate (MESH:C524499), polyisobutylene (MESH:C008967), APIs (-), MMA (MESH:D020366), lidocaine (MESH:D008012), polyesters (MESH:D011091), HEMA (MESH:C005044), MAA (MESH:C008384), TMPTA (MESH:C027993), amide (MESH:D000577), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (MESH:C020946), water (MESH:D014867), silicone (MESH:D012828), acrylamide (MESH:D020106), PEG diacrylates (MESH:C437167), 2-EHA (MESH:C036758), AA (MESH:C036658), PEG (MESH:D011092), Polymer (MESH:D011108)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

3 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12967098/full.md

## References

45 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12967098/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12967098