Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop a novel buccal dosage form to transport rhodamine 123 and human insulin as models for poorly water-soluble and biological drugs, using lipid-core micelles (LCMs)-loaded mucoadhesive films. LCMs were synthesized by a low-energy hot emulsification process, yielding spherically shaped, small-sized, monodispersed and negatively charged carriers with high entrapment efficiency. In vitro release studies demonstrated a higher release of insulin rather than rhodamine from LCMs in simulated physiological conditions, due to an initial burst release effect; however, both release profiles are mainly explained by a diffusion mechanism. Furthermore, LCMs-loaded mucoadhesive films were manufactured and preserved with similar mechanical properties and optimal mucoadhesive behavior compared to nonloaded films. Ex vivo permeation experiments using excised porcine buccal epithelium reveal that both rhodamine and insulin-loaded LCM films elicited a significantly enhanced permeation effect compared to LCMs in suspension and free drugs in solution as controls. Hence, LCMs-loaded mucoadhesive films are suitable as buccal dosage form for the transport and delivery of rhodamine 123 and insulin, as models for poorly water-soluble and biological drugs, respectively.