Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Buccoadhesive Tablets Using a New Model Substrate for Bioadhesion Measures: The Eggshell Membrane

Abstract

For oral delivery of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory drugs, mucoadhesive tablets based on gelatin/hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), gelatin/hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and gelatin/sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) at different ratios were prepared by direct compression of the mixed powders. Metronidazole and benzydamine were used as model drugs. The in vitro bioadhesive properties, evaluated by a commercial tensile tester, were significantly affected by the model substrate employed, that is, a polypropylene (PP) membrane or a biological membrane (eggshell membrane). The use of the biological substrate seemed to supply more reliable data. All studied formulations showed an erosion-diffusion mechanism of release, anomalous or non-Fickian release, in agreement with the behavior of the swellable systems.