Preparation and Characterization of Metadoxine Buccal Patches

Natural polymers are trending as a reliable alternative for synthetic and semi synthetic polymers, in the development of a large number of novel drug delivery systems. One such new alternative to be used as a mucoadhesive polymer- B. flabellifer Fruit resin, especially for buccal drug delivery was introduced. The novel polymer, in combination with two other natural polymers (Pectin & Sodium alginate) and one synthetic polymer (PVA), was used to formulate a buccal drug delivery system containing Metadoxine. This drug was chosen due to its low half-life (maximum of 60 min) and attempt was made to reduce its dose by sustaining its release. Also alcoholism is a serious social and health issue affecting a significant amount of world population and hence a therapeutic alternative to cure alcoholism is a need of the hour. 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, including BFR. The calibration graph of Metadoxine was obtained by a validated UV spectrophotometric method at λmax 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). A backing membrane of 4% PVA was also coated over one side of all formulations. Physico-chemical 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.