Development and functional characterization of composite freeze dried wafers for potential delivery of low dose aspirin for elderly people with dysphagia

This study involves the development, characterization and optimization of composite wafers for potential oral and buccal delivery of low dose aspirin to prevent thrombosis in elderly patients with dysphagia. Blank (BLK) wafers (no loaded drug) were initially formulated by dissolving combinations of metolose (MET) with carrageenan (CAR) and MET with low molecular weight chitosan (CS) in different weight ratios in water, to identify optimum polymer combinations. However, drug loaded (DL) wafers were prepared using 45% v/v ethanol to help complete solubilization of the aspirin. The formulations were characterized using texture analyzer (hardness, mucoadhesion), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), attenuated total reflection – Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and swelling capacity. Wafers with higher total polymer concentration were more resistant to penetration (MET:CAR 1:1 samples B2, C2) and MET:CS 1:1 (sample E2) and MET:CS 3:1 (sample F2) and also depended on the ratios between the polymers used. From the characterization, samples C2, B2, E2 and F2 showed the most ideal characteristics. XRD showed that BLK wafers were amorphous, whilst the DL wafers were crystalline due to the presence of aspirin. SEM confirmed the presence of pores within the polymer matrix of the BLK wafers, whilst DL wafers showed a more compact polymeric matrix with aspirin dispersed over the su...
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research