Papers of the Week

Vomiting is a common symptom associated with migraine. Metoclopramide (MCP) is used as an effective treatment for managing the pain of migraine attack and vomiting. Buccal films loaded with MCP formulated using the solvent casting method. The films were transparent, homogenous, and easily removed after drying. The weight and thickness of the films increased with increasing the drug content as cm of the film. All films’ endurance indicated flexibility of the prepared films. Drug content investigation showed higher MCP entrapment (>90%). The films weight increased with moisture uptake depending on the drug content. DSC analysis showed the disappearance of the drug crystallinity in the prepared films. The bioadhesion strengths, adhesion forces, bond strengths, and swelling index of the films decreased by increasing the drug content. In vitro release study demonstrated that MCP release from the buccal film is drug-polymer ratio dependent. In vivo study of a selected formula (in human) showed a significant difference concerning T and C in comparison to the conventional marketed tablets (T decreased from 1.21 ± 0.33 to 0.50 ± 0.0 and C increased from 45.29 ± 14.66 to 63.27 ± 24.85), which indicates an enhancement in the rate of metoclopramide mucoadhesive buccal film absorption. The study showed the achievement of different goals planned during selection and design of the pharmaceutical dosage form.