A novel mucoadhesive polymer film composed of carbopol, poloxamer and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.

Using the casting method novel mucoadhesive polymer blend film consisting of Carbopol, poloxamer, and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was prepared and characterized. Triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) was loaded into Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film. Carbonyl band of Carbopol in Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC shifted to longer wavenumber than that of Carbopol in Carbopol/poloxamer due to the hydrogen bonding among Carbopol, poloxamer, and HPMC. Tan delta peak assigned to glass transition temperature (Tg) of HPMC shifted to low temperature due to increased flexibility caused by increased poloxamer content in polymer blend films. Swelling ratio of Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC films was lowest in Carbopoll poloxamer/HPMC at mixing ratio of 35/30/35 (wt/wt/wt). Adhesive force of Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC films increased with increasing HPMC content in Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film and increasing hydroxypropyl group content in HPMC due to hydrophobic property of HPMC although bioadhesive force was highest at mixing ratio of 35/30/35 (wt/wt/ wt). Release of TAA from TAA-loaded Carbopol/poloxamer/HPMC polymer blend film in vitro increased with increasing loading content of drug.