title: Development and characterization of a mucoadhesive sublingual formulation for pain control: extemporaneous oxycodone films in personalized therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was the development of mucoadhesive sublingual films, prepared using a casting method, for the administration of oxycodone.
  
  
  METHODS
  A solvent casting method was employed to prepare the mucoadhesive films. A calibrated pipette was used to deposit single aliquots of different polymeric solutions on a polystyrene plate lid. Among the various tested polymers, hydroxypropylcellulose at low and medium molecular weight (HPC) and pectin at two different degrees of esterification (PC) were chosen for preparing solutions with good casting properties, capable of producing films suitable for mucosal application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained films showed excellent drug content uniformity and stability and rapid drug release, which, at 8 min, ranged from 60% to 80%. All films presented satisfactory mucoadhesive and mechanical properties, also confirmed by a test on healthy volunteers, who did not experience irritation or mucosa damages. Pectin films based on pectin at lower degrees of esterification have been further evaluated to study the influence of two different amounts of drug on the physicochemical properties of the formulation. A slight reduction in elasticity has been observed in films containing a higher drug dose; nevertheless, the formulation maintained satisfactory flexibility and resistance to elongation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HPC and PC sublingual films, obtained by a simple casting method, could be proposed to realize personalized hospital pharmacy preparations on a small scale.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baldassari
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Guendalina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuccari
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Mengying
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neduri
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacy , University of Genova , Genova , Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caviglioli
mesh_terms: D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D004355:Drug Stability; D004548:Elasticity; D005079:Excipients; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D057285:Precision Medicine; D012995:Solubility; D012997:Solvents; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014014:Tissue Adhesives
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005079:Excipients; D012997:Solvents; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D010098:Oxycodone
keywords: Mucoadhesion; extemporaneous preparations; mechanical properties; oxycodone; sublingual film; transmucosal delivery