FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO ASSESSMENT OF CHLORZOXAZONE BUCCAL TABLETS FOR SUSTAINED DRUG RELEASE

The present study was aimed at the formulation and evaluation of Chlorzoxazone-loaded buccal mucoadhesive tablets using natural and synthetic polymers to achieve controlled drug release and improved bioavailability. Preformulation studies, including physical characterization, melting point determination, solubility analysis, FTIR, loss on drying, and UV spectroscopic analysis, confirmed the purity, identity, and suitability of the drug for formulation development. Buccal tablets were prepared by the direct compression method using polymers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K4), Carbopol 934, and sodium alginate in varying proportions. The powder blends were evaluated for precompression parameters, which indicated fair to good flow properties suitable for compression. The prepared tablets were subjected to postcompression evaluation, including thickness, hardness, friability, weight variation, and drug content, all of which were found to be within acceptable pharmacopoeial limits. Swelling studies demonstrated good hydration capacity of the polymeric matrices, which is essential for mucoadhesion and controlled drug release. In vitro drug release studies revealed a sustained release profile, with formulation F5 showing the most desirable release characteristics. Drug release kinetics indicated that the release followed first-order kinetics with a significant contribution of diffusion, as confirmed by Higuchi and Korsmeyer–Peppas models. Overall, the results suggest that Chlorzoxazone buccal mucoadhesive tablets can be successfully formulated to provide controlled drug delivery, improved patient compliance, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy.