Development of biopolymer wafers for bucal administration of curcumin

Resumo

Bioadhesive polymers promote longer contact between the active substance and the oral mucosa, allowing aintenance of the concentration of the drug in the organism within the appropriate therapeutic range. Therefore, biopolymer wafers facilitate administration of the drug, bring comfort to the patient and make procedures less invasive. Curcumin, a major component of the rhizomes of Curcuma longa L, has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties; it was also tested for buccal affections, showing great promise for oral pre-treatment of inflammatory dental diseases. Therefore, this work aimed the development of biopolymer wafers as a vehicle for the sustained buccal administration of curcumin.The wafers were obtained by freeze-drying alginate and gelatin gels in micro-well plates under a product temperature driven process. The pre freeze-drying characterization consisted in the evaluation of the pH and zeta potential of the gel. The SAGE formulation was visually homogeneous and presented adequate pH to the oral mucosa. Characterization post freeze-drying gel included visual appearance and drug release profile. The formulations were porous, rectilinear surface, easy to remove from the mold, uniform height between the units and without visual collapse. Preliminary drug dissolution studies over a 2-hour period showed cumulative drug release for the wafers obtained with and without curcumin showed satisfactory conditions for the oral mucosa and homogeneous distribution in matrix.