DESIGN AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF METADOXINE BUCCAL PATCHES USING BORASSUS FLABELLIFER FRUIT RESIN – A NOVEL MUCOADHESIVE POLYMER

In this study, an attempt was made to introduce a new mucoadhesive polymer – Borassus flabellifer fruit resin (BFR), especially for buccal drug delivery. The novel polymer, in combination with two other natural polymers (Pectin and Sodium alginate) and one synthetic polymer (PVA) were used to formulate buccal patches containing Metadoxine. Compatibility studies carried out with the help of FT-IR spectrometer indicated that there are no chemical interactions between the drug and the polymers used. The calibration graph of Metadoxine was obtained by a validated UV spectrophotometric method at a λ_max of 324 nm. BFR was extracted from ripened palm fruit; stored and used for formulating 9 formulations in the ratios BFR : Pectin – 3:5, 4:4, 5:3 / BFR : SA – 4:2, 4:3, 4:4 and BFR : PVA – 3:5, 4:4, 5:3 respectively (the numbers in the ratios indicate the polymer concentration in percentage). Physicochemical properties such as thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, swelling index, surface pH, drug content and bioadhesion strength were evaluated appropriately and, the results were tabulated and compared. In-vitro diffusion study was also performed to examine the release pattern of the formulations, which was extended to determine the kinetics and mechanism of the release. Among the developed buccal patches, the formulation F7 with a polymer combination of 3% w/v BFR and 5% w/v PVA seems to be an optimized formulation, since it exhibits better folding endurance, uniformity of drug content, and comparatively better sustained-release of the drug.