European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL PATCHES OF TIMOLOL MALEATE

*N. Umarani, Saniya K. Meghana, G. Vaishnavi, D. Swathi, K. Ajay Prakash and N. Rohith Reddy

ABSTRACT

Timolol maleate is a non-selective beta-adrenergic blocker, and having short biological half-life, approximate 4.1
h, and low oral bioavailability. Therefore, the present investigation is concerned with the development of the
buccal mucoadhesive patches, which were designed to prolong the residence time and thus to improve the
bioavailability of the drug and its half-life. Hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) is one the polymers which is
having good mucoadhesive property so therefore various formulations were developed by using release rate
controlling and gel forming polymers like HPMC K and Ethyl cellulose by solvent casting method. In addition to
this glycerol and DMSO was used as plasticizer and permeation enhancer respectively. All the formulations had
good physical appearance and physicochemical properties. From among all the developed formations, since
formulation, F2 retarded the drug release in a controlled manner for a prolonged period of more than 6 h, gave
satisfactory bio adhesion for a maximum duration of 6 h and drug diffused up to the 80%, so it was selected as the
best formulation. Swelling studies indicated significant water uptake and contributed in drug release. The most
satisfactory formulation had showed no significant change in physicochemical properties, drug content, bio
adhesion properties, in vitro diffusion pattern after storage at 30 ± 2ºC (65% RH) and at 40 ± 2ºC (75% RH)
during stability studies for 3months as per ICH guidelines. Thus, best formulation satisfied physicochemical
parameters, in vitro bio adhesion strength, in vitro drug release and requirements for a buccal mucoadhesive drug
delivery system.

Keywords: Buccal delivery system, Timolol Maleate, polymers, solvent casting technique, Mucoadhesive patches, In-vitro release studies.