Development and Evaluation of Buccal Films Based on Chitosan for the Potential Treatment of Oral Candidiasis

PICCIRILLI, G.N.; SALOMÓN, C.J.; BARRERA, M.G.; FRATTINI, A.; LEONARDI, DARÍO; TEJADA, G.; SORTINO, M.; LAMAS, MARÍA C.

AAPS PHARMSCITECH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Arlington; Año: 2017 p. 936 - 946

1530-9932

In this work, chitosan films were prepared by a casting/solvent evaporationmethodology using pectin or hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose to form polymeric matrices.Miconazole nitrate, as a model drug, was loaded into such formulations. These polymericfilms were characterized in terms of mechanical properties, adhesiveness, and swelling as wellas drug release. Besides, the morphology of raw materials and films was investigated byscanning electron microscopy; interactions between polymers were analyzed by infraredspectroscopy and drug crystallinity studied by differential scanning calorimetry and X-raydiffraction. In addition, antifungal activity against cultures of the five most important fungalopportunistic pathogens belonging to Candida genus was investigated.Chitosan:hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose films were found to be the most appropriate formulations in terms of folding endurance, mechanical properties, and adhesiveness. Also, an improvement in the dissolution rate of miconazole nitrate from the films up to 90% compared to the non-loaded drug was observed. The in vitro antifungal activity showed a significant activity of the model drug when it is loaded into chitosan films. These findings suggest that chitosan-based films are a promising approach to deliver miconazole nitrate forthe treatment of candidiasis.