Influence of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose E6–Carbopol 934P Composition on Drug Release and Buccal Mucoadhesion Time of Ondansetron Hydrochloride Tablets

Abstract

Background Ondansetron hydrochloride is a selective antagonist of serotonin receptor used to manage nausea and vomit-ing, but oral administration is limited by first-pass metabolism and may be unreliable during active vomiting. Buccal delivery may overcome these limitations. This study aimed to develop and evaluate ondansetron hydrochloride mucoadhesive buccal tablets with various concentrations of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose E6 (HPMC E6) and Carbopol 934P. Methods Seven ondansetron hydrochloride mucoadhesive buccal tablet formulations (F1�F7) were prepared by direct com-pression using various concentrations of HPMC E6 and Carbopol 934P. Powder flow and compressibility were evaluated using the fixed-funnel, bulk-density, and tapped-density methods. Tablet weight, hardness, friability, and thickness were assessed using standard procedures, and drug content was quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Drug release, swelling, and in vivo mucoadhesion duration on the human buccal mucosa were also determined. Results All powder blends exhibited micromeritic properties compatible with direct compression. The tablets had mean weights of 148.0�152.3 mg, hardness values of 13.32�15.80 kgf, and friability values below 1%. Drug content ranged from 88.63 � 0.36% to 94.77 � 0.18%; six formulations met the prespecified 90%�110% assay range, whereas F4 was below the lower limit. Drug release at 2 h ranged from 36.2 � 3.7% to 96.4 � 2.8%, while mucoadhesion duration ranged from 80 � 3.0 to 264 � 4.0 min. Swell-ing varied among the formulations, with negative values in several formulations indicating that matrix erosion or material loss exceeded water uptake. F2 demonstrated a balanced profile, with 92.7 � 0.6% drug release at 2 h, a mucoadhesion duration of 198 � 2.0 min, and positive mean swelling indices at both measurement times. Conclusion HPMC E6 and Carbopol 934P show the potential to enhance the mucoadhesion and drug-release properties of ondansetron hydrochloride buccal tablets. It offers a promising candidate for further evaluation, but additional studies are needed on the release kinetics, permeability, stability, safety, and bioavailability studies are required.