title: Chitosan and sodium alginate-based bioadhesive vaginal tablets.
abstract: Metronidazole was formulated in mucoadhesive vaginal tablets by directly compressing the natural cationic polymer chitosan, loosely cross-linked with glutaraldehyde, together with sodium alginate with or without microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was added to some of the formulations. The drug content in tablets was 20%. Drug dissolution rate studies from tablets were carried out in buffer pH 4.8 and distilled water. Swelling indices and adhesion forces were also measured for all formulations. The formula (FIII) containing 6% chitosan, 24% sodium alginate, 30% sodium CMC, and 20% MCC showed adequate release properties in both media and gave lower values of swelling index compared with the other examined formulations. FIII also proved to have good adhesion properties with minimum applied weights. Moreover, its release properties (% dissolution efficiency, DE) in buffer pH 4.8, as well as release mechanism (n values), were negligibly affected by aging. Thus, this formula may be considered a good candidate for vaginal mucoadhesive dosage forms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. amalelkamel@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Kamel
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sokar
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Naggar
authors.forename: Safaa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Gamal
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D014622:Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies; D002686:Chitin; D008795:Metronidazole; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan