Development of mucoadhesive semisolid systems for anesthetic release and iontophoresis application on the buccal cavity

Author(s)

Camila Cubayachi

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Ribeirão Preto.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-06-06

Examining board members

Renata Fonseca Vianna Lopez; Marcos Luciano Bruschi; Michelle Franz Montan Braga Leite

• Advisor: Renata Fonseca Vianna Lopez

Abstract

Local anesthesia of the oral cavity is a key step in most dental procedures. The effective non-invasive administration of local anesthetics in the oral cavity, in order to replace the painful injections, would enable the improvement of routine and surgical procedures. However, deep anesthesia for a suitable period of time of strategic regions of the oral mucosa requires penetration of the anesthetic in effective amounts. The combination of lidocaine hydrochloride (LCL) and prilocaine (PCL) is an interesting strategy, since lidocaine begins to act more quickly, but prilocaine has a higher potency. The rate of release and permeation of drugs can be enhanced and modulated by the application of iontophoresis. The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the influence of iontophoresis on the permeation of PCL and LCL through porcine esophageal mucosa from a mucoadhesive semisolid formulation. Thus, a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel was developed and the effect of pH (5.8 and 7.0) evaluated in function of iontophoresis (1 mA/cm2 for 60 minutes). An analytical method of high performance liquid chromatography was validated for the simultaneous quantification of drugs with satisfactory selectivity, linearity in the range 0.25 to 10 ?g/mL, sensitivity, precision, accuracy and robustness. The recovery of the drugs from the porcine esophageal mucosa provided adequate levels, as related in the literature. The formulation developed had uniformity of content and mechanical and mucoadhesive properties suitable for buccal application. The combination of the drugs at the formulation did not cause the formation of an eutectic mixture, but provided changes in the distribution coefficients (mucosa/formulation) of PCL, having greater hydrophilicity at pH 7.0 and higher hydrophobic character at pH 5.8. Regarding the in vitro permeation studies across porcine esophageal mucosa, iontophoresis from the formulation at pH 7.0 was able to increase the amounts of PCL permeated and recovered when isolated and combined at the formulation. For LCL, the amount was enhanced by iontophoresis only at the mucosa when the drug was associated with PCL. Iontophoresis from the formulation at pH 5.8, in order to promote higher ionization of the drugs, increased the flow of PCL and the LCL. However, the passive flux was lower at pH 5.8 and the greater increase of flow provided by iontophoresis at this pH did not result in higher amounts of total permeated drug. Pretreatment of the mucosa with LCL slightly increased passive flux of PCL, but when the iontophoresis was applied, both the flow and the amount of PCL recovered from the mucosa decreased after pretreatment. Thus, for a non-invasive anesthesia for dental procedures, it is recommended to apply iontophoresis directly at the formulation containing the combination of PCL and LCL, at pH 7.0. Therefore, it combines a faster onset of action (LCL) and higher potency (PCL), providing larger amounts permeated and recovered from the mucosa for both drugs. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/05644-0 - Development of mucoadhesive semisolid systems for anesthetic release and iontophoresis application on the buccal cavity
• Grantee: Camila Cubayachi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master