Buccal Mucoadhesive Tablets of Metronidazole

The present study aims at designing and evaluating a buccal mucoadhesive tablet of Metronidazole using mucoadhesive polymers like HPMC, Sodium CMC, Carbopol 934, Ethyl cellulose. Both Non aqueous granulation and direct compression methods were studied. Various evaluation parameters such as swelling index, ex-vivo mucoadhesive strength, in-vitro drug release, drug content and in-vitro dissolution parameters were studied for the formulation. Formulation MT07 with HPMC, Carbopol and ethyl cellulose was found to have good mucoadhesive strength, an in-vitro release of 7 hrs and good swelling index and other evaluation parameters. The drug release mechanism was found to be controlled by diffusion mechanism and follows zero order dissolution pattern. No drug - excipient interaction was seen in FTIR spectrum The formulation MT07 can be effectively used as buccal mucoadhesive tablet, to reduce the metronidazole dose and its adverse effects.