The buccal mucosa provides an attractive and promising route for localized drug delivery due to its high vascularization, easy accessibility, and ability to bypass first-pass metabolism. Metronidazole, a widely used antimicrobial for oral infections such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental abscesses, requires frequent topical application in conventional forms like gels and rinses, which often leads to poor patient compliance and fluctuating drug levels. In this study, muco-adhesive buccal patches of Metronidazole were formulated using chitosan as polymeric carriers. This study demonstrates a simple and effective approach to develop Metronidazole-loaded muco-adhesive buccal patches for localized oral delivery. The formulation strategy, involving biocompatible polymers and solvent-casting techniques, ensures enhanced residence time, controlled drug release, and effective antimicrobial action, highlighting the potential of mucoadhesive buccal patches as an efficient alternative for oral infection management. Comprehensive characterization included physicochemical evaluation, thickness and weight uniformity, surface pH, swelling studies, muco-adhesive strength, and in-vitro drug release. Optimized patches demonstrated adequate muco-adhesion, Overall, research work demonstrates a simple and effective strategy to develop metronidazole-loaded muco-adhesive buccal patches for localized oral delivery. The formulation ensures enhanced residence time, controlled drug release, and effective antimicrobial action, highlighting the potential of muco-adhesive buccal patches as a viable alternative for the treatment of oral infections.
Mr. Ahemad Asadulla Pathan*, Mr. Pathan Muzakkir Ahmed, Dr. Shaik Gazi, Dr. MD Rayees Ahmad (Mon,) studied this question.