Design and Characterization of Chitosan-Based Mucoadhesive Nanoparticles for Buccal Delivery of Antidiabetic Drugs

The current study dwells upon the design, optimization and the characterization of chitosan based mucoadhesive nanoparticles (CS-MNPs) entrenched in buccal film preparations of metformin HCl to observe overcoming the shortcomings of traditional oral treatment. Formulation variable including the molecular weight of chitosan, and the ratio of polymer: crosslinker was optimized using ionic gelation and response-surface methodology to yield nanometre-scale particle size, dispersion, high zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency. The optimized CS-MNPs showed extended, 12-hour release of drug, effective ex vivo buccal permeation (flux 4.7 ug/cm2/h), good mucoadhesion (0.42 N), and desirable morphology characterization by TEM and SEM. Stability studies indicated high levels of robustness when in the moderate storage environments, perishable to high relative humidity and temperature. Kinetic modelling implied an abnormal transport mechanism in the release of the drug which included diffusion and the relaxation of the polymer. It is indicated that this buccal drug delivery system has the potential of avoiding first pass metabolism to increase the therapeutic outcome overall as well as patient compliance in management of diabetes, and because of its versatility and dynamic nature to accommodate other forms of drugs which have poor oral bioavailability.