BUCCOADHESIVE TABLETS OF NIFEDIPINE - STANDARDIZATION OF A NOVEL BUCCOADHESIVE-ERODIBLE CARRIER

Buccoadhesive tablets of nifedipine were obtained by incorporation of nifedipine in suitable carrier systems standardised based on bioadhesion and dissolution. The carrier systems were formulated using sodium alginate as the bioadhesive. Mannitol, lactose, ethylene glycol 6000 and polyethylene glycol 4000 incorporated as solubilisers, singly or in combination. Carrier systems having a diameter of 11 mm and weighing about 200 mg were obtained by standard tabletting techniques using polyvinylpyrolidone as the binder. The systems were evaluated for bioadhesion and dissolution, 'in vitro' and 'in vivo' in seven normal healthy human volunteers. Based on these studies, nifedipine (5 mg) was incorporated in selected carrier systems to obtain buccoadhesive tablets of nifedipine. These tablets exhibited rapid 'in vitro' drug release.