Abstract

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF BUCCOADHESIVE FILMS OF LINAGLIPTIN

Kalyani Kondapalli*, Hari Bhavani, Durga Laxmi Priya and Yelumarthi Renuka

ABSTRACT

The present study focuses on formulating and evaluating bucco-adhesive films of Linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor used in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. The objective was to enhance the bioavailability of Linagliptin by bypassing hepatic first-pass metabolism through buccal administration. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K15 and HPMC E50LV were employed as the primary film-forming polymers in various ratios to optimize film properties. The solvent casting method was utilized for film preparation. The prepared films were evaluated for physicochemical properties, including thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, surface pH, drug content uniformity, moisture absorption, and in vitro residence time. In vitro drug release studies were conducted using a phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), and the release kinetics were analysed. Results indicated that films containing a combination of HPMC K15 and E50LV exhibited satisfactory mechanical strength, mucoadhesive properties, and controlled drug release over an extended period. The optimized formulation demonstrated sustained release of Linagliptin up to 8 hours, making it a promising alternative for conventional oral delivery. The study concludes that bucco-adhesive films are a viable platform for improving the therapeutic efficacy of Linagliptin.

Keywords: Linagliptin, Bucco-adhesive films, HPMC K15, HPMC E50LV, Solvent casting, Controlled release, Bioavailability.