Title:Fabrication and Characterization of Oral Dissolving Films for Tuberculosis Drug Delivery
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Author(s): Sowmya Selvaraj and Dhesingh R. Shankaran*
Affiliation:
- Nano- Bio Materials and Sensors Laboratory, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Coimbatore,India
Keywords:
Chitosan, fast dissolving films, gelatin, glycerin, tuberculosis, Isoniazid, poly(vinyl alcohol)
and Rifampicin.
Abstract: Introduction: Fast dissolving films have received great attention in pharmaceutical
industry because of their unique properties and advantages. The drug loaded films undergo
quick disintegration in the salivary fluids of the oral cavity and release the drug. The
purpose of this study is to fabricate tuberculosis (TB) drugs such as Isoniazid and Rifampicin
loaded polymer films.
Materials and Methods: Three polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), gelatin and
chitosan were evaluated for their film forming property. Glycerin was used as plasticizer
with different concentrations to find the effect of plasticizer on disintegration time of the
polymer. The oral films were prepared by solvent casting method. FT-IR and UV-Vis
analysis were employed to confirm the presence of drugs. Drug release studies were performed
in simulated saliva solution.
Result: The performance of the films was evaluated with respect to thickness, weight
uniformity, in vitro disintegration time, moisture uptake, moisture loss and folding endurance.
Poly (vinyl alcohol) showed better film forming property than other polymers.
The antimicrobial activity of the films was analyzed by well diffusion method.
Conclusion: The films prepared with 3% PVA with 5% plasticizer concentration
showed minimum disintegration time (17 Seconds) which is highly suitable for oral drug
delivery applications. This results in a new approach of TB drug delivery which reduces
the complications in swallowing the tablets by elderly and pediatric people.