FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF BUCCOADHESIVE COMPACTS OF SALBUTAMOL SULPHATE

Buccoadhesive compacts(BC’s) of Salbutamolsulphate in different concentrations (4mg and 8mg) were prepared by direct compression method using polymers like carbopols and hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose4KM(HPMC 4KM) in the ratios of 1:0, 1:1, 1:2 and 0:1. Also two different carbopols i.e. carbopol 934P (CP-934P) and carbopol 974P (CP974P) varying in their molecular weight were used. The compacts were evaluated for weight uniformity, drug content uniformity, swelling index, In vitro bioadhesivestrength and In vitro dissolution studies. Maximum bioadhesivestrength was observed in compacts formulated with a combination of carbopol-HPMC 4KM (1:1). Formulations containing CP-934P exhibited higher bioadhesivestrength as compared with CP-974P. Swelling was increased with an increase in HPMC 4KM contents in compacts. The in vitro dissolution studies were carried out using modified dissolution apparatus in phosphate buffer pH 6.6 for 8 hours. Formulations containing higher concentration of drug (8mg/BC) showed a slight higher rate of drug release as compared to the one with lower drug concentration (4mg/BC). The release rate was found to follow first order rate kinetics. The data were evaluated by a simple power equation (Mt/M∞=ktn), it was observed that all the compacts followed non- Fickian release kinetics. From FT-IR spectra it may be concluded that there is no chemical interaction between the drug and polymer. From the results of the present experimental work it may be concluded that buccoadhesive compacts of Salbutamolsulphate can be developed as potential prolonged release formulation with improved dissolution rate, which otherwise undergoes extensive first pass metabolism when administered orally.