Abstract
In order to ameliorate disadvantages of buccal ointments and mucoadhesive tablets used for the treatment of aphthosis, a thin mucoadhesive patch containing triamcinolone acetoni de was designed and evaluated for the pharmaceutical properties. The adhesive gel layer consisting of Noveon AA-1, hydroxypropylcellulose-M and ethylcellulose N 100, and the protective gel layer of ethylcellulose N 100, Eudragit RSPO and castor oil have been formulated and various properties such as viscosity of drug gel layer, thickness, in vitro adhesion time, adhesive strength, surface pH, content uniformity and drug release are tested. The mean viscosity of drug-containing gel layer was found to increase with increasing amount of Noveon OAA-1 or hydroxypropylcellulose-M. The optimum formulation showed the thickness of 171 ${\mu}$m, surface pH of 4.6, in vitro adhesion time of 8 hours and adhesive strength of 272.7g/sheet. The drug content of each patch was relatively homogeneous with the value of 273${\pm}$6.77g. Drug release study showed that compared to mucoadhesive tablet, the patch showed a faster drug release. Drug release was delayed by hydroxypropylcellulose-M, but not by ethylcellulose N 100. The patches prepared were nonirritant and the muco adhesion was better than the commercial product (AftachR) on the market. Based on these results, this mucoadhesive patch is expected to be an effective dosage form for the treatment of aphthosis.