DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL FILMS CONTAINING ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUG

A. Prameela Rani and B. Radha Madhavi*

ABSTRACT

Candesartan cilexitil is an Angiotensin II receptor antagonist used in the treatment of hypertension. The conventional formulation of candesartan cilexitil is considered to be low in efficacy, primarily on account of their failure in providing and maintaining effective therapeutic drug levels. It shows low bioavailability due to high hepatic first pass metabolism. Hence, this study aims to focus on development of a mucoadhesive buccal delivery system with an objective of offering a rapid as well as a prolonged delivery coupled with enhanced therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance and the bioavailability. Buccoadhesive films of candesartan were prepared by solvent-casting method using novel and natural mucoadhesive polymers jack fruit gum and tamarind gum along with other polymers. Prepared films were evaluated for their weight, thickness, surface pH, swelling index, drug content uniformity, in vitro residence time, folding endurance in vitro release and permeation studies. The formulation C11 containing mucoadhesive polymer jackfruit gum was selected to prepare sustained release mucoadhesive films of Candesartan as this formulation retards the release rate upto 8hrs and at the end of 8 hrs the release rate was found to be highest (i.e., 99.6%). Formulation C11showed good swelling, a convenient residence time and promising extended drug release, which can be selected for the development of buccal film for effective therapeutic use. The data observed from this study highlight the feasibility of the buccal route as a viable option for delivery of candesartan cilexitil.

Keywords: Buccal film, Candesartan cilexitil, jackfruit gum, tamarind gum, ex vivo studies.