Formulation and Evaluation of Fast Dissolving Mucoadhesive Buccal Films of Candesartan Cilexetil Using Factorial Design

The purpose of this investigation was to develop fast dissolving muco-adhesive buccal films of candesartan cilexetil by solvent casting technique to deliver candesartan into blood via buccal mucosa and to show immediate action using jack fruit gum as novel muco-adhesive polymer. A 22 factorial design was considered in optimizing the formulation by taking Jack Fruit Gum (JFG), muco-adhesive polymer and Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC), film forming polymer as two independent variables at two levels (high and low). The response factors considered were tensile strength, bioadhesion force and drug release. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed no interaction between drug and polymers. Ex vivo diffusion studies were carried out using Franz diffusion cell, while bioadhesive properties were evaluated using porcine buccal mucosa as model tissue. Results revealed that bilayer film containing 0.1% (w/v) JFG and 0.6% (w/v) HPMC in the drug layer and 1% (w/v) Ethyl Cellulose (EC) in backing layer demonstrated diffusion of 94.12% through the porcine buccal mucosa. Thus, this study suggests that Jack fruit gum can act as a potential mucoadhesive polymer for buccal delivery of antihypertensive drug candesartan cilexetil.