title: Assessment of chitosan derivatives as buccal and vaginal penetration enhancers.
abstract: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the mucoadhesive and penetration enhancement properties via the buccal and vaginal mucosae of four different chitosan derivatives: 5-methyl-pyrrolidinone chitosan (MPC), two low molecular weight chitosans (DC1 and DC2) and a partially reacetylated chitosan (RC). Chitosan HCl was used as a reference. Polymer solutions (4% w/w) were prepared in media simulating the buccal (pH 6.4 buffer or water) and the vaginal (pH 5.0 buffer) environments and subjected to rheological characterization. Acyclovir was added to the polymer solutions at 5% (w/w) concentration. The mucoadhesive properties of the polymer solutions were measured using excised porcine cheek or vaginal mucosa and mucin dispersions to simulate the buccal or vaginal environments, respectively. Drug permeation and penetration tests were carried out using porcine cheek and vaginal mucosae as model membranes. Acyclovir aqueous suspensions prepared in pH 6.4 and 5.0 buffers were used as blanks. Drug release measurements were also carried out in the same conditions employed for the permeation and penetration tests. Methyl-pyrrolidinone chitosan shows the best mucoadhesive and penetration enhancement properties in both buccal and vaginal environments. The capability to enhance the permeation/penetration of acyclovir was decreased by partial depolymerization of chitosan and disappeared after partial reacetylation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy. carla.caramella@unipv.it
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sandri
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bonferoni
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muzzarelli
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caramella
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000278:Administration, Buccal; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D008954:Models, Biological; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D019999:Pharmaceutical Solutions; D011108:Polymers; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C085060:methylpyrrolidinone chitosan; D048271:Chitosan; D000212:Acyclovir