Nystatin, Aspirin and Lidocaine Containing Orodispersible Films for Pronounced Drug Delivery: Development and Characterization

Buccal drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising approach for achieving local effects in the oral cavity, providing an alternative to parenteral routes and addressing the stability issues of drugs experienced in the gastrointestinal tract. Buccal films offer the advantage of rapid dissolution for local effects, as well as the potential for controlled and delayed release of drugs for systemic effects. In this study, antifungal buccal film was developed to alleviate pain and inflammation. Nystatin, Lidocaine, and Aspirin were incorporated as the active pharmaceutical ingredients. The buccal film was prepared using 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC-E5) and 5% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30) as polymers. The solvent casting method was used to prepare the film at room temperature, followed by the assessment of its mechanical properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the compatibility among formulation ingredients, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the drugs in the buccal film were amorphous in nature. The thermal stability of the film was confirmed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Disintegration and dissolution studies demonstrated rapid drug release, with more than 90% of the drugs being released within 3 min. The film met all the standards of in vitro testing and showed potential for further evaluation of associated pharmacological effects in suitable animal models. The developed buccal film holds promise for achieving improved local antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of oral thrush.