Formulation of rizatriptan benzoate fast dissolving buccal films by emulsion evaporation technique

Nanosuspension-Based Repaglinide Fast-Dissolving Buccal Film for Dissolution Enhancement

Drug solubility and dissolution remain a significant challenge in pharmaceutical formulations. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate repanglinide (RPG) nanosuspension-based buccal fast-dissolving films (BDFs) for dissolution enhancement. RPG nanosuspension was prepared by the antisolvent-precipitation method using multiple hydrophilic polymers, including soluplus®, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidine, poloxamers, and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose. The nanosuspension was then directly loaded into BDFs using the solvent casting technique. Twelve formulas were prepared with a particle size range of 81.6-1389 nm and PDI 0.002-1 for the different polymers. Nanosuspensions prepared with soluplus showed a favored mean particle size of 82.6 ± 3.2 nm. The particles were spherical and non-aggregating, as demonstrated by SEM imaging. FTIR showed no interaction between soluplus and RPG. Faster dissolution occurred for the nanosuspension in comparison with pure RPG (complete release vs 60% within 30 min). The nanosuspension was successfully incorporated into BDFs. The optimum film formula showed 28 s disintegration time, and 97.3% RPG released within 10 min. Ex-vivo permeation profiles revealed improved RPG nanosuspension permeation with the cumulative amount of RPG permeated is103.4% ± 10.1 and a flux of 0.00275 mg/cm2/min compared to 39.3% ± 9.57 and a flux of 0.001058 mg/cm2/min for pure RPG. RPG was successfully formulated into nanosuspension that boosted drug dissolution and permeation. The selection of the ultimate NP formula was driven by optimal particle size, distribution, and drug content. Soluplus NPs were shown to be the successful formulations, which were further incorporated into a buccal film. The film was evaluated for ex-vivo permeation, confirming successful RPG formulation with improved performance compared to pure drugs.

Buccal delivery of small molecules and biologics: Of mucoadhesive polymers, films, and nanoparticles - An update

Buccal delivery of small and large molecules is an attractive route of administration that has been studied extensively over the past few decades. This route bypasses first-pass metabolism and can be used to deliver therapeutics directly to systemic circulation. Moreover, buccal films are efficient dosage forms for drug delivery due to their simplicity, portability, and patient comfort. Films have traditionally been formulated using conventional techniques, including hot-melt extrusion and solvent casting. However, newer methods are now being exploited to improve the delivery of small molecules and biologics. This review discusses recent advances in buccal film manufacturing, using the latest technologies, such as 2D and 3D printing, electrospraying, and electrospinning. This review also focuses on the excipients used in the preparation of these films, with emphasis on mucoadhesive polymers and plasticizers. Along with advances in manufacturing technology, newer analytical tools have also been used for the assessment of permeation of the active agents across the buccal mucosa, the most critical biological barrier and limiting factor of this route. Additionally, preclinical and clinical trial challenges are discussed, and some small molecule products already on the market are explored.

Rizatriptan-Loaded Oral Fast Dissolving Films: Design and Characterizations

Rizatriptan (RZT) is an efficient anti-migraine drug which belongs to the class of selective 5 HT (1B/1D) serotonin receptor agonists. Nevertheless, RZT elicits several adverse effects and RZT nasal sprays have a limited half-life, requiring repeated doses that could cause patient noncompliance or harm to the nasopharynx and cilia. The current research aimed to develop orally disintegrating films (ODFs) of RZT employing maltodextrin (MTX) and pullulan (PUL) as film-forming polymers, as well as propylene glycol (PG) as a plasticizer. The ODFs were prepared by solvent casting method (SCM). The technique was optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD), contemplating the ratios of PUL: MTX and different levels of PG (%) as factor variables. The influence of these factors was systematically analyzed on the selected dependent variables, including film thickness, disintegration time (D-time), folding endurance (FE), tensile strength (TS), percent elongation (%E), moisture content (%), and water uptake (%). In addition, the surface morphology, solid state analysis, drug content uniformity (%), drug release (%), and pH of the RZT-ODFs were also studied. The results demonstrated a satisfactory stable RZT-ODFs formulation that exhibited surface homogeneity and amorphous RZT in films with no discernible interactions between the model drug and polymeric materials. The optimized film showed a rapid D-time of 16 s and remarkable mechanical features. The in vitro dissolution kinetics showed that 100% RZT was released from optimized film compared to 61% RZT released from conventional RZT formulation in the initial 5 min. An animal pharmacokinetic (PK) investigation revealed that RZT-ODFs had a shorter time to achieve peak plasma concentration (T_max), a higher maximum plasma concentration (C_max), and area under the curve (AUC_0-t) than traditional oral mini capsules. These findings proposed a progressive approach for developing anti-migraine drugs that could be useful in reducing the complications of dysphagia in geriatric and pediatric sufferers.

An Insight into Preparatory Methods and Characterization of Orodispersible Film-A Review

Over the past few decades, researchers and companies have been trying to develop novel drug delivery systems to ensure safety, efficacy, compliance, and patient acceptability. Nowadays drug discovery and development are expensive, complex, and time-consuming processes, but trends are moving toward novel drug delivery systems. This delivery system helps to achieve drug response by local and systemic action through different routes. This novel approach of preparing orodispersible films (ODFs) provides benefits to paediatric, geriatric, and bedridden patients. This review paper aims to provide details on the preparation, characterization, and evaluation of ODFs; it also aims to focus on the positive and negative factors that affect film formulation and give an insight into potential drug candidates and polymers for use in ODFs. ODFs are effective, safe, and have good bioavailability as compared to fast-disintegrating tablets. The novel approach has various advantages because it provides instant effects in emergency situations and in schizophrenic and dysphasic patients without the need for taking water, the films disintegrating within a few seconds in the oral cavity. The solvent casting method is the most frequently used technique to develop ODFs, using film-forming polymers, which have a fast disintegration time, improved drug dissolution, and better drug contents.

Recent advances of Sterculia gums uses in drug delivery systems

Trees of the genus Sterculia produce polysaccharide-rich exudates, such as karaya gum (Sterculia urens), chicha gum (Sterculia striata), and Sterculia foetida gum. These anionic biomaterials are biodegradable, with high viscosity, low toxicity, and gelling properties in aqueous media. According to these properties, they show promising applications as a polymer matrix for use in drug delivery systems. For this application, both the chemically modified and the unmodified polysaccharide are used. This review focuses on analyzing the state of the art of recent studies on the use of Sterculia gums in a variety of pharmaceutical forms, such as tablets, hydrogels, micro/nanoparticles, and mucoadhesive films. Sterculia gums-based delivery systems have potential to be explored for new drug delivery systems.

Smart vaginal bilayer films of Tenofovir based on Eudragit® L100/natural polymer for the prevention of the sexual transmission of HIV

In the absence of an effective vaccine, vaginal microbicides are essential for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV to women. Antiretroviral vaginal films have emerged as promising choices, especially those offering mucoadhesivity and controlled drug release. Tenofovir-loaded bilayer films based on Eudragit® L100 (EL100) and a biopolymer - gum arabic, karaya gum, pectin or tragacanth gum - were developed in a single-stage process. Cytotoxicity studies in three human cell lines indicated no toxicity of the excipients at the concentrations tested. Raman spectroscopy and SEM confirmed the formation of the two layers and their anchoring. Texture analysis showed no major differences between the batches. The swelling of the film is conditioned by its biopolymer nature and by the amount of EL100, which acts as structuring agent thus enhancing swelling. Tragacanth gum-based batches showed high mucoadhesion regardless the amount of EL100. The controlled release of Tenofovir in simulated vaginal fluid was faster in the presence of simulated seminal fluid due to the dissolution of EL100. Films containing 400 mg of EL100 and tragacanth gum are promising candidates for future studies, as they could sexually safeguard women from HIV for at least one week and ensure greater protection during intercourse.

A review on orally disintegrating films (ODFs) made from natural polymers such as pullulan, maltodextrin, starch, and others

In recent years, orally disintegrating films (ODFs) have been studied as alternative ways for drug administration. They can easily be applied into the mouth and quickly disintegrate, releasing the drug with no need of water ingestion and enabling absorption through the oral mucosa. The ODFs matrices are typically composed of hydrophilic polymers, in which the natural polymers are highlighted since they are polymers extracted from natural sources, non-toxic, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have favorable properties for this application. Besides that, natural polymers such as polysaccharides and proteins can be applied either alone or blended with other synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural polymers to achieve better mechanical and mucoadhesive properties and fast disintegration. In this review, we analyzed ODFs developed using natural polymers or blends involving natural polymers, such as maltodextrin, pullulan, starch, gelatin, collagen, alginate, chitosan, pectin, and others, to overview the recent publications and discuss how natural polymers can influence ODFs properties.

Amorphous Ropinirole-Loaded Mucoadhesive Buccal Film: A Potential Patient-Friendly Tool to Improve Drug Pharmacokinetic Profile and Effectiveness

Nowadays the therapeutic strategies to manage Parkinson’s Disease are merely symptomatic and consist of administering L-DOPA and/or dopamine receptor agonists. Among these, Ropinirole (ROP) is a widely orally-administered molecule, although it is extensively susceptible to hepatic metabolism. Since literature reports the buccal mucosa as a potentially useful route to ROP administration, the development of novel, effective, and comfortable oromucosal formulations should prove desirable in order to both enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the drug and allow a personalized therapeutic strategy able to meet the patient’s needs. The results of the proposed ROP film as a new dosage form show that it is flexible; uniform; and characterized by suitable surface pH; good mucoadhesiveness; low swelling degree; and fast, complete drug release. Moreover, after ex vivo evaluation on a film having an area of 0.282 cm² and dose of 2.29 mg, the results of drug flux through the buccal mucosa are closely comparable to the amount of ROP that reaches the bloodstream at the steady-state condition after ROP-PR 4 mg oral administration, calculated according to the literature (0.237 mg/cm²·h⁻¹ vs. 0.243 mg/h, respectively). Moreover, drug flux and ROP dose could be accurately modulated time-by-time depending on the patient’s need, by varying the administered disk area. In addition, the proposed ROP film displays no lag time, producing an immediate drug input in the bloodstream, which could result in a prompt therapeutic response. These findings make ROP film a potentially comfortable and patient-friendly formulation, and a promising candidate for further clinical trials.

New formulation and approach for mucoadhesive buccal film of rizatriptan benzoate

Mucoadhesive buccal film is developed as a promising dosage form, which has prominent advantages because of drug delivery through buccal mucosa. New formulation of buccal films containing rizatriptan benzoate (RB) was prepared by solvent casting method using various concentrations of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene oxide (PEO), glycerol, stevia, and goat buccal mucosa used as a model membrane. In this work, the effect of polymers and plasticizer concentrations on drug release profile, disintegration and dissolution time, mechanical properties, and mucoadhesive characteristics of films was studied. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed uniform distribution of RB in film formulations. Chemical compounds and thermal analysis of the films were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The buccal films produced were uniform in drug content and thickness. All formulations have in vitro release of 98–102% between 40 and 80 min. Also ex vivo mucoadhesion strength was in the range of 0.205 ± 0.035 to 0.790 ± 0.014 N for all formulations. A formulation consisting RB (50 mg), HPMC K4M, PVA, and PEO (63 mg), glycerol (1.5 ml), stevia (5 mg) was selected as our optimum composition. More satisfactory results were obtained in terms of disintegration and dissolution time, mechanical properties, and mucoadhesive characteristics. In addition, it showed about 99.89% RB released in 45 min. The results suggest that RB-loaded mucoadhesive buccal films could be a potential candidate to achieve optimum drug release for effective treatment of migraine.