DEVELOPMENT AND IN VITRO EVALUATION OF BUCCOADHESIVE TABLETS OF LOSARTAN POTASSIUM

Abstract

Buccoadhesion, or the attachment of a natural or synthetic polymer to a biological substrate, is a practical method of drug immobilization or localization and an important new aspect of controlled drug delivery. The unique environment of the oral (buccal) cavity offers its potential as a site for drug delivery. Because of the rich blood supply and direct access to systemic circulation. The Buccal route is suitable for drugs, which are susceptible to acid hydrolysis in the stomach or which are extensively metabolized in the liver (first pass effect). Oral controlled release (CR) systems continue to be most popular once amongst all the drug delivery systems. Mucoadhesive delivery systems offer several advantages over other oral CR systems by virtue of prolongation of residence time of drug in buccal mucosa, and targeting and localization of the dosage form at a specific site. Also, these mucoadhesive systems are known to provide intimate contact between dosage form and the absorptive mucosa, resulting thereby in high drug flux through the absorptive tissue. Losartan potassium is an angiotensin II receptor (type AT1) antagonist. Administration of conventional tablets of Losartan potassium has been reported to exhibit fluctuations in the plasma drug levels, resulting either in manifestation of side effects or reduction in drug concentration at the receptor site. Losartan Potassium is having less bioavailability (25-35%). In order to increase the bioavailability to avoid the hepatic metabolism, the buccal tablets of Losartan potassium were prepared.