Formulation, optimization and evaluation of buccoadhesive delivery system of lovastatin

Abstract

Lovastatin is an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase (HMG-Co A reductase). The drug undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism with less than 5% of a dose reaching circulation. In the present study, Lovastatin buccoadhesive films were prepared using HPMC 15cPs, Carbopol 934P and Poly vinyl alcohol. The patches were evaluated for their thickness, folding endurance, and weight uniformity, content uniformity, swelling behaviour, mucoadhesive strength and surface pH. In vitro release studies were conducted for films in phosphate buffer (pH, 6.8) containing 2% SLS solution. The patches exhibited drug release in the range of 79.51% to 99.47% in 8 hours. Data of in vitro release from patches were fitted into kinetic models (Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models) to explain release profiles. The optimized formulation (Film F2) showed first order release followed by zero order. The results showed that buccal films of Lovastatin improves bioavailability and can be used as a potential drug delivery system in treatment of hypercholesterolemia.