Acta Pharm. 51 (2001) 263-271
Buccoadhesive tablets for the delivery of salbutamol sulfate to the oral mucosa were prepared using a combination of bioadhesive polymers. Gantrez AN 169, Carbopol 934 and 940, gum tragacanth as well as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) were used as bioadhesive polymers and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was used as a matrix forming polymer. The tablets were tested for mass variation, hardness, friability, content uniformity, time of attachment to the buccal mucosa and drug release rate values. The highest drug release was obtained by using tragacanth and Na-CMC, while the lowest drug release was obtained in the case of HPMC. The drug release rate was inversely proportional to the concentration of HPMC. Combination of a polymer of low bioadhesive property (tragacanth and polyvinylmethyl ether/maleic anhydride) with a polymer of high bioadhesive property (Na-CMC) produced tablets of satisfactory drug release rate and increased time of attachment to the mucus membrane. Fast release tablets were prepared using Ludipress and Avicel as tablet matrices. In the case of Ludipress all drugs were released within 5 minutes during an dissolution test.
Keywords: salbutamol sulfate, mucoadhesive buccal tablet, bioadhesive polymer, dissolution rate