Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part F (2025)

The present study focused on the formulation and evaluation of a mucoadhesive buccal film of Indapamide for the treatment of hypertension, aiming to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy while reducing first-pass metabolism. Indapamide, a thiazide-like diuretic, undergoes extensive hepatic metabolism when taken orally. To overcome this limitation, mucoadhesive buccal films were developed using the solvent casting method, incorporating sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na-CMC) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC E15) as polymers, with propylene glycol serving as both a plasticizer and permeation enhancer. Six formulations (F₁-F₆) were prepared and evaluated for various physicochemical parameters, including thickness, folding endurance, surface pH, swelling ratio, drug content uniformity, in vitro disintegration time, and dissolution profile. Among them, formulation F₆ demonstrated optimal characteristics, exhibiting uniform thickness (0.151 mm), average weight (103 mg), folding endurance (243), surface pH (6.72), and swelling ratio (24.5%). It also showed a high drug content (92.17%) and rapid disintegration (9.25 min), achieving a maximum drug release of 91.4% within 60 minutes. FTIR analysis confirmed the absence of chemical interactions between the drug and polymers, indicating compatibility and stability. Kinetic modelling revealed that drug release followed the Higuchi model (R² = 0.9822), suggesting a diffusion-controlled mechanism. Stability studies over 60 days indicated negligible changes in film properties, confirming the formulation’s stability. Overall, the optimized Indapamide mucoadhesive buccal film (F₆) proved to be a stable, effective, and patient-compliant dosage form, offering a promising alternative to conventional oral therapy for hypertension by enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic performance.