title: Design of novel antifungal mucoadhesive films Part I. Pre-formulation studies.
abstract: In this work, pre-formulation studies concerning the design of novel mucoadhesive films have been carried out. The rationality of the design is based on the utilization of mucoadhesive polymers (carbomer and carboxymethylcellulose), a plasticizer (polyethyleneglycol 400, PEG400) and a surfactant (ascorbyl palmitate, ASC16). In the gel preparation, the casting method using water as a solvent was employed. To provide a better understanding of the structural arrangements produced during the casting process, the changes in morphology (Cryo-TEM) and rheology (viscosity) of the film forming gel were evaluated. When PEG400 was included as a plasticizer, a disorder was produced in the network, reflected in the globular structure adopted by the gel and the consequent decrease in viscosity. The addition of ASC16 improved the solubilization of nystatin and provoked a decrease in gel viscosity. However, as water was removed during casting, ASC16 produced a significant increase in the viscosity at the point in which the polymer concentrations were sufficient to strengthen the inter-polymeric interactions, giving rise to a more rigid tri-dimensional network.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Llabot
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Manzo
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Allemandi
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005782:Gels / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009761:Nystatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005782:Gels; D009761:Nystatin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C006903:carbopol 940; D002480:Cellulase; C019826:carboxymethylcellulase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C031226:6-O-palmitoylascorbic acid