Original Articles: 2011 Vol: 3 Issue: 4
Flash release oral films of metoclopramide hydrochloride for pediatric use: Formulation and in-vitro evaluation
Abstract
The ultimate goal of any drug delivery system is the successful delivery of the drug to the body; however, patient compliance must not be overlooked. Fast dissolving drug delivery systems, such as, mouth dissolving films, offer a convenient way of dosing medications, not only to special population groups with swallowing difficulties such as children and the elderly, but also to the general population. Mouth dissolving Films are the novel dosage forms that disintegrate and dissolve within the oral cavity within a minute, without needing water or chewing. A novel flash release oral film drug delivery system for the treatment of emesis in paediatrics was developed for immediate oral delivery of metoclopramide which is an excellent antiemetic drug. Two metoclopramide film formulations naming F-1 and F-2 were prepared by solvent casting technique using two water soluble polymers, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and carboxy methyl cellulose. Infrared analysis revealed no interaction between Metoclopramide and polymers. The prepared films were evaluated for their thickness uniformity, folding endurance, weight uniformity, content uniformity, surface pH and In-vitro release. Formulation F1 released 99.40% of drug within 30 sec and was considered as best formulation. This case study showed that hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose was the most suitable film-forming material for metoclopramide -loaded films, providing fast dissolution films that were not sticky and were easy to handle.