Preparation and Characterization of Mucoadhesive Buccal Film for Delivery of Meloxicam

Aims: Preparation of mucoadhesive buccal films able to deliver the meloxicam drug to the site of application through oral mucosal tissues. This dosage form is advantageous due to absence the problems of the ordinary dosage forms.
Study Design: In this research, it was prepared a lot of formulations from different polymers and plasticizers to select the best one which has the optimum and required characteristics.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University and Misr International University, Egypt, between July 2009 and July 2012.
Methodology: There are different polymers used in preparation of the films which are hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, pectin and polyvinyl alcohol. Also, the plasticizers used are glycerin, propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. The film was prepared by solvent casting technique. Firstly, the calibration curve of meloxicam was carried out. Then, the properties of the formulations were examined through some experiments which are determination of drug content, study of efficacy of mucoadhesion, in-vitro drug release studies and differential scanning calorimetry.
Results: It was found that the formula containing polyvinyl alcohol 2% (w/w) and propylene glycol 20% from the weight of the polymer has ideal characteristics. Results showed that this formula has optimum drug content, acceptable mucoadhesion and fast drug release with compatibility between drug and excipents.