Abstract:
The prime objective of the present study was to formulate and evaluate buccal patches containing combination of  Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate and Metoclopramide Hydrochloride. The buccal films were fabricated by solvent casting method using mucoadhesive polymers such as  Hydroxy Propyl Methyl Cellulose (HPMC),  Hydroxy Propyl Cellulose (HPC), Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA), Poly Vinyl  Pyrolidone (PVP) and ethyl cellulose as a backing layer. The prepared patches were evaluated for various physicochemical properties such as weight, thickness, surface Ph, folding endurance, bioadhesive strength, water uptake, moisture loss, drug content, elongation at break, in-vitro release studies and release kinetics studies. The IR spectra showed no interaction between drugs and polymer. The physicochemical characteristics of all the samples were found to be satisfactory. The water uptake of the films increase with increase in the content of HPMC,HPC and PVA. The percentage elongation, bioadhesive force and folding endurance of the film increased with increase in the concentration of HPMC. The in-vitro drug release demonstrated slower release of both drugs in formulations with higher proportion of HPMC and HPC. The in-vitro drug release data of the optimized formulation best fitted zero order model. Buccal delivery of  this combination can resolve the draw backs of first pass metabolism in the stomach and thereby possibly improve the bioavailability.

Keywords: Buccal Delivery, Combination of Polymer, Esomeprazole Magnesium Trihydrate, Metoclopramide Hydrochloride, Solvent Casting, Poly Vinyl Pyrolidone (PVP), In-vitro Drug Release.