Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF FAST DISSOLVING FILMS CONTAINING ACARBOSE

Smitha Shetty*, Osman Khalid Osman Ali1 and Rehab Tonse

ABSTRACT

Acarbose is an oral alpha-glycosidase inhibitor for use in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present investigation is aimed at formulation and evaluation of fast dissolving film containing acarbose. The films were prepared by solvent casting method using combination of different polymers like HPMC E3, HPMC K4M and PVP and PEG as plasticizer. FTIR studies were carried out for determining any interaction between drug and polymers. The films were evaluated for physiochemical characteristics such as weight variation, thickness, surface pH, folding endurance, tensile strength, and uniformity of drug content, kinetic release study and stability studies. FTIR studies indicated that no interaction between drugs and polymers. Amongst all formulations, polymers HPMC E3 and PVP produced satisfactory results with respect of in vitro disintegration time, percentage drug release after 5 seconds. The mechanism of the drug release of fast release of oral films was found to be first order kinetics. Short term stability studies of selected strips indicated that there is no significant change with respect to drug content, percentage drug release and disintegration of strips.

Keywords: Fast dissolving film, Acarbose, HPMC E3, HPMC K4M, PVP, PEG, Solvent casting.