Mucin incorporated electrospun fibrous matrix of zein and PVP: Towards transmucosal propranolol hydrochloride delivery

Abstract

Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems are being widely explored as a substitute for conventional drug delivery devices. Several polymers and their functional modifications are under investigations. In that scenario, the cohesive influence of mucin in the polymer system itself to the biologically available mucin in the mucosa is a novel approach. The added advantage of mucin in augmenting mucoadhesion was explored. A two-fold increase in the force of adhesion and an eight-fold increase in the work of adhesion were intriguing observations to be noted. Mucin incorporation in the matrix was done via EDC crosslinker. The results of the TNBS assay confirmed 39 % of mucin binding. A three-fold decrease of elongation at break (%) after mucin binding is a piece of quantitative information to corroborate the same. This work also investigates the efficiency of the mucoadhesive matrix towards the release of Propranolol Hydrochloride (PL). Low oral bioavailability of PL demands its administration via mucosal route to avoid hepatic first-pass metabolism. The release study of PL in PBS and permeation through RPMI 2650 cells revealed a burst release followed by a sustained release profile and best fitted with Korsmeyer Peppas model. PL permeation through the cell monolayer without a cell junction opening pursued a transcellular transport mechanism. Drug permeation through porcine buccal mucosa also assured adequate permeation in ex-vivo conditions. The sustained release of PL from MUZPVP and prolonged residence time of the matrix over mucosa due to increased mucoadhesion guarantees an optimistic drug delivery device to the biomedical discipline.