Design of chitosan mucoadhesive devices for bucal drug delivery

AGUSTINA ALDANA; AGUSTIN GONZALEZ; MIRIAM C. STRUMIA; MARISA MARTINELLI

MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

Año: 2012 vol. 134 p. 317 - 324

0254-0584

The study of the physicochemical and functional properties of chitosan films cross-linked with genipinand poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) was performed in this work. Cross-linked films were prepared bycasting method from acetic acid solutions. The structure and physical properties of the films were analyzedby infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C NMR), differentialscanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical testings. Propranolol hydrochloride was used like a modeldrug to determine the behavior of drug release from films. The drug release capacity was measured andcompared with the degree of cross-linking, mechanical properties and swelling index.There was an appropriate balance of hydrophilicity, mechanical properties and diffusion by the incorporationof PVP into the networks cross-linked with genipin. The combination of both cross-linkers allowsobtaining a soft and tough material potentially applicable as a controlled release. This research representsthe first report where both cross-linkers, chemical and ionic agents, are used for obtaining films.These studies suggest that the chitosan films prepared here are promising drug delivery systems forbuccal application, with thermal stability and acceptable mechanical properties. Buccal films may bepreferred in terms of flexibility and comfort.