In vitro and ex vivo assessment of hydrophilic polymer‐ and plasticizer‐based thin buccal films designed by using central composite rotatable design for the delivery of meloxicam

Abstract

AbstractThe purpose of the study was to design a dosage form with ability to deliver drug immediately, hence providing rapid relief in certain pain ailments. Meloxicam (MLX) was selected as a model drug and buccal films were designed by using the solvent casting technique. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used as a statistical tool to design and optimize the film formulations. No noticeable interaction was found between the drug and polymer when they were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the smooth surface of the film and uniform mixing of drug and polymer. X‐ray diffractometry (XRD) was carried out to observe crystalline and amorphous nature of meloxicam. Differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis was used to investigate the thermal behavior of free drug and drug‐loaded formulation. The prepared film showed good mechanical property as folding endurance was found to be greater than 100 in all formulations. The cumulative drug release was found to be more than 80% in initial at dissolution time of 5 min, when the prepared films were subjected to dissolution studies in phosphate buffer at pH 6.8. Thus, it can be concluded that the hydrophilic polymer and plasticizer have definite impact on formulation and characteristics of rapidly dissolving buccal films and have the ability to prepare a suitable immediate release buccal film of meloxicam.