Abstract:
Local delivery devices are designed to deliver the drug locally into
periodontal pocket. Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole used to treat
protozoal infections. For local delivery, metronidazole films were prepared
by solvent casting technique using ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl
methylcellulose and eudragit RL-100 with dibutylphthalate and
polyethylene glycol 400 as plasticizers. FTIR and UV spectroscopic
methods revealed no interaction between metronidazole and polymers.
The films were evaluated for their thickness uniformity, folding endurance,
weight uniformity, content uniformity, tensile strength, and surface pH. Data
of in-vitro release from films were fit to different equations and kinetic
models to explain release kinetics. Hixon-Crowell, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were used to fit the in-vitro release data. Formulation F6
released 94.18% of drug at the end of 120 h, was considered as best
formulation. Short-term stability study revealed that drug content
decreased in various films was ranging from 1.361 to 2.209%
