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A soft skin adhesive patch for burn wounds: toward safer and sustained pirfenidone delivery

by Roxane Viguier on May 12, 2026 11:07:24 AM

The development of dermal drug delivery systems continues to evolve toward safer, more effective, and patient-centric solutions. Within this landscape, adhesive patch technologies are gaining increasing interest, particularly for applications on damaged or fragile skin.

A scientific publication in Pharmaceutics (2023) describes the development of a soft skin adhesive (SSA) patch designed for the extended delivery of pirfenidone for burn wounds. The study was led by Principal Investigator Kai P. Leung, and conducted by Eugene P. Chung and colleagues. It was produced in collaboration with academic partners and industrial partners, including AdhexPharma’s R&D center (Labtec GmbH), which provided expertise in advanced adhesive and transdermal patch technologies.

Read the article: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15071842

 

Burn wounds and the challenge of hypertrophic scarring

Burn injuries frequently lead to hypertrophic scarring, a pathological process characterized by excessive fibrosis and prolonged inflammation. These scars can result in functional impairment, chronic discomfort, and significant psychological impact.

Pirfenidone, a small molecule initially approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, has demonstrated both anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. This makes it a strong candidate for repurposing in the prevention of burn-related scarring.

However, conventional topical formulations such as gels or ointments present limitations, particularly due to the need for repeated applications and variable dosing.

 

From semi-solids to patches: a shift in dermal drug delivery

Dermal drug delivery has long relied on semi-solid formulations. While effective in certain contexts, these systems often require frequent reapplication and may lead to inconsistent exposure of the active ingredient.

In contrast, adhesive patches offer a fundamentally different approach. By integrating a drug reservoir with controlled-release mechanisms, they enable sustained delivery over several days, improved dose consistency, and simplified application.

This development highlights the need for integrated CDMO capabilities, combining formulation expertise with industrial scalability to translate drug delivery concepts into clinical products.

For a broader understanding of transdermal technologies and their evolution, see our review article on drug delivery systems:

 

Within this technological shift, AdhexPharma's expertise in patch design and skin delivery systems plays a central role, particularly in bridging early-stage formulation development with scalable industrial manufacturing.

 

Soft skin adhesives: enabling application on fragile skin

A key limitation of conventional dermal patches lies in skin irritation and trauma upon removal, especially on compromised tissue.

To address this, the study introduces a dermal patch consisting of a drug-in adhesive reservoir and a soft skin adhesive (SSA) layer. Designed by project partners, this layer was optimized and made scalable at AdhexPharma’s R&D center (Labtec GmbH). These silicone-based adhesives are designed to:
• Provide gentle skin adhesion
• Minimize stratum corneum stripping
• Reduce pain and trauma during removal

These properties make SSA particularly suitable for sensitive or damaged skin, including burn wounds and post-surgical applications.

 

A drug-in-matrix patch design

The developed system is based on a drug-in-matrix architecture combining the following functional layers:
• An acrylic drug matrix acting as a reservoir for pirfenidone
• A soft skin adhesive layer ensuring atraumatic skin contact
• A polyurethane backing providing mechanical protection

This bilayer design, supported by a functional backing, enables high drug loading while maintaining controlled release and skin safety.

To better understand industrial transdermal design principles, see:

 

Controlled release and effective permeation

One of the key findings of the study is the ability of the SSA patch to deliver pirfenidone in a sustained and controlled manner.

Drug release can be modulated by adjusting matrix thickness, enabling near-linear release profiles over extended periods. This supports continuous multi-day dosing and stable local exposure at the wound site.

Importantly, pirfenidone demonstrated effective permeation through both intact and damaged skin, with enhanced delivery observed in burn tissue models.


Promising biological effects in burn models

In a porcine model of burn wounds, continuous delivery of pirfenidone via the SSA patch resulted in:
• Reduced expression of key pro-inflammatory biomarkers
• Decreased levels of fibrosis-related markers such as TGF-β1 and MMP-9

These findings support the potential of pirfenidone patches as a preventive strategy against hypertrophic scarring.

 

From laboratory innovation to scalable manufacturing

Beyond formulation performance, the study highlights the successful transition from laboratory-scale development within AdhexPharma’s R&D center to pilot-scale manufacturing using a roll-to-roll process.

Key achievements include:
• Optimization of coating and curing processes
• Integration of scalable production technologies
• Consistent drug loading at a pilot scale

The patches also demonstrated long-term stability, with no drug crystallization and preserved biological activity over time.

This ability to bridge scientific innovation and industrial feasibility reflects a core aspect of AdhexPharma’s CDMO positioning: transforming advanced dermal concepts into scalable therapeutic solutions.

 

Toward new applications in wound care

This work illustrates how combining advanced adhesive technologies with controlled-release systems can open new perspectives in dermal drug delivery.

Soft skin adhesive patches could be particularly relevant for:
• Burn wound management
• Scar prevention
• Post-surgical applications
• Other dermatological conditions requiring sustained local delivery

More broadly, this approach reflects a growing trend toward device-based drug delivery systems designed to improve both therapeutic outcomes and patient experience.

This trend is also supported by the continued expansion of the transdermal patch market, which is expected to reach nearly USD 11 billion in the United States by 2029, highlighting the increasing clinical and industrial interest in this route of administration [1].

 

Conclusion

The development of a soft skin adhesive patch for pirfenidone delivery represents an important step in the evolution of dermal drug delivery systems.

By enabling sustained drug release directly onto compromised skin while minimizing trauma, this technology addresses key limitations of traditional topical formulations.

Although further studies are needed to define optimal clinical use, ongoing developments within AdhexPharma’s R&D activities suggest that SSA-based patches could play a meaningful role in future wound care strategies.

This work further highlights how advances in soft skin adhesive technologies and controlled-release systems are contributing to the development of next-generation dermal drug delivery platforms, reflecting the expertise required to translate innovative concepts into scalable and clinically relevant solutions.

 

Related articles:

 

References: 

[1] Transdermal Skin Patches Market Size | Mordor Intelligence. Accessed: June 17, 2025. [Online]. Available at: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/fr/industry-reports/transdermal-skin-patches-market
Topics: Transdermal patches

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