ADHESIVE AND INVITRO RELEASE CHARACTERISTICS OF PROPRANOLOL BIOADHESIVE DISK SYSTEM

For the study of bioadhesive systems used in the controlled delivery of drugs through the oral mucosal membrane, direct compressed disc systems containing either 10, 15 or 20 mg of propranolol HCl (PL) with a mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose and poly(acrylic acid) were prepared. The release data were fitted to the simple power equation, and it was found that the release characteristics of PL from these systems were not affected by the amounts of the drug loaded and followed behavior conforming to a non-Fickian mechanism of release. The diffusion exponents for the drug released in pH 6.8 medium were higher than those in pH 3.5 medium. However, the fraction of PL released in pH 6.8 medium was less than that in pH 3.5 medium. The adhesive bond strength of the systems to the porcine buccal mucosa was evaluated by the tensile Strength test and the result showed no significant difference in adhesive bond strength to the porcine buccal mucosa among the three PL-containing discs and drug-free discs.