Exploring the Potentials of Corn Fiber Gum in Fabricating Mucoadhesive Floating Tablet of Poorly Gastro-retainable Drug

Aim: To formulate and preliminary evaluated polysaccharide based mucoadhesive floating tablets of Cinnarizine. Background: Gastro-retentive drug delivery systems has proved to be a successful approach to enhance the gastric residence with site specific targeting for achieving local or generalized effect. Various patents has also been filed globally employing gastro-retentive approach. Objective: The study is designed to explore the mucoadhesive and low density characteristics of corn fibre gum (CFG) for the preparation of gastro-retentive floating tablets of cinnarizine. Methods: Floating tablets were prepared by direct compression technique using different concentrations of CFG (45, 50, 60% w/w). The formulated floating tablet batches were evaluated for their hardness, friability, drug content, floating duration/lag time, swelling behavior, bioadhesive strength and in-vitro drug release. Results: Mucoadhesive strength was found to increase with an increment in the polysaccharide concentration. Swelling index was found to increase both with the increase in CFG concentration and with duration for which tablet remains in medium. The in-vitro drug release studies indicated decrease in drug release (91% to 77%) with the increase in polymer concentration. The release data was further fitted to various kinetic models which revealed the drug release to be in accordance with zero order and Higuchi models, indicating polymer to exhibit the swellable matrix forming abilities. The value of n (between 0.458 and 0.997) from Korsemeyer-Peppas model depicted the possibility of drug to follow more than one mechanism of release from the formulation i.e. diffusion and erosion. Stability studies revealed the preparations to retain their integrity and pharmaceutical characteristics at variable storage conditions. Conclusion: Thus from the research findings, CFG could be concluded to possess potential binder, release retardant and mucoadhesive characteristics which could be successfully employed for the formulation of gastro-retentive floating tablets.