Atenolol-releasing buccal patches made of Dillenia indica L. fruit gum: preparation and ex vivo evaluations

Abstract

The objective of present research deals with the utility of extracted dillenia fruit gum (DG) as pharmaceutical excipient in the formulation of buccal patches containing atenolol (for the use in the treatment of hypertension). The atenolol-releasing buccal patches having a mucoadhesive polymeric layer of extracted DG-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4M) and a drug-free backing layer of ethyl cellulose (1%) were prepared through the solvent-casting process. Various physicochemical parameters such as drug content, average weight, thickness, folding endurance and moisture content of all these buccal patches were found satisfactory. Ex vivo buccoadhesion was also found satisfactory. Ex vivo drug permeation across the excised porcine buccal mucosal membrane demonstrated the atenolol permeation over 12 h, which obeyed the first-order model (R2 = 0.9858–0.9967) with non-Fickian (anomalous) diffusion mechanism (n = 0.72–0.75). These buccal patches were also characterized by SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. These atenolol-releasing buccal patches can be used in the treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris bypassing the extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism.