Buccal patches of atenolol formulated using fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed mucilage.

BACKGROUND: The use of mucoadhesive natural polymers in designing mucoadhesive patch systems has received much attention. OBJECTIVES: The study involved the development and evaluation of buccal patches of atenolol using fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed mucilage with hydroxylpropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC K4M) and a backing membrane (ethyl cellulose 5% w/v). MATERIAL AND METHODS: These atenolol-releasing buccal patches were prepared using a solvent casting technique. The buccal patches prepared were evaluated for average weight, thickness, drug content, folding endurance and moisture content. Ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, force of adhesion and bonding strength were determined using porcine buccal mucosa. The mucosal permeation of atenolol through the porcine buccal mucosa was carried out using a Franz diffusion cell in phosphate buffer saline, pH 6.8. These buccal patches were also characterized by SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. RESULTS: The average weight, thickness, drug content, folding endurance and moisture content of these atenolol-releasing buccal patches were found satisfactory for all the patches. Amongst all, the F-4 buccal patch showed maximum mucoadhesive strength (31.12 ±1.86 g), force of adhesion (30.53 × 10-2 N) and bond strength (1748.89 N/m2). Ex vivo atenolol permeation from the buccal patches showed drug permeation across the excised porcine buccal mucosa over 12 h. The F-4 buccal patch showed maximum permeation flux (29.12 µg/cm2/h). CONCLUSIONS: The developed atenolol-releasing buccal patches can be beneficial over the conventional drug delivery systems to decrease the dosing frequency and enhance patient compliance.

Solubility and dissolution enhancement of etoricoxib by solid dispersion technique using sugar carriers.

The aim of the present study was to improve solubility and dissolution of the poorly aqueous soluble drug, etoricoxib by solvent evaporation technique using various sugar carriers, such as lactose, sucrose, and mannitol. Etoricoxib solid dispersions and their respective physical mixtures using lactose, sucrose, and mannitol were prepared in different ratios by solvent evaporation technique. The percent yield, drug content, saturation solubility, and in vitro dissolution of etoricoxib solid dispersions and physical mixtures were analyzed. Etoricoxib solid dispersions were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, and DSC analysis. The FTIR spectroscopic analysis revealed the possibility of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in various solid dispersions. The XRD and DSC studies indicated the transformation of crystalline etoricoxib (in pure drug) to amorphous etoricoxib (in solid dispersions) by the solid dispersion technology. Both the aqueous solubility and dissolution of etoricoxib were observed in all etoricoxib solid dispersions as compared with pure etoricoxib and their physical mixtures. The in vitro dissolution studies exhibited improved dissolution in case of solid dispersion using lactose than the solid dispersions using both sucrose and mannitol. The in vitro dissolution of etoricoxib from these solid dispersions followed Hixson-Crowell model.