Preparation and evaluation of mucoadhasive microspheres of Propranolol HCl for nasal delivery

Abstract

In the recent decades, the interest in intranasal route for drug delivery is increased as the nasal mucosa offers numerous benefits such as rapid systemic drug absorption and fast onset of action. Additionally, intranasal absorption avoids the hepatic presystemic metabolism and enhances drug bioavailability in comparison to that obtained after oral administration. Also, it offers patient ease being non invasive, offers favourable tolerability profile and it is also pharmaceutically economic as dont require sterilization. Propranolol HCl is the most commonly used ? blocker drug for the prophylaxis of migraine. The problem with the oral route is low bioavailability (26%) due to pre-systemic metabolism. So, the aim of the work is to formulate and evaluate mucoadhesive microsphere of Propranolol HCl to increase its bioavailability and reduce its dose. Mucoadhesive microspheres increase the residence time of the drug by gel formation mechanism and hence improve bioavailability as compared to powder and liquid formulations. The prepared formulation was evaluated for particle size, shape and morphology, mucoadhesive strength, micrometric properties, in vitro drug diffusion study, entrapment efficiency and stability studies.