Formulation And Development of Buccal Mucoadhesive Tablets of Atenolol

Abstract

Background: Atenolol, a commonly prescribed beta-adrenergic blocker, is frequently used in the treatment of hypertension. While it is typically administered in oral tablet form, this route can result in inconsistent bioavailability and necessitates frequent dosing intervals. An alternative drug delivery approach involves buccal mucoadhesive tablets, which can enable sustained drug release, reduce dosing frequency, and enhance patient adherence to therapy. Methods: Buccal mucoadhesive tablets were developed using the direct compression method by incorporating different proportions of mucoadhesive polymers such as Carbopol 934P, HPMC K15M, and Sodium CMC. To confirm the suitability of the powder blend for tablet formulation, pre-compression characteristics were examined, indicating acceptable flow behavior. After tablet formation, several post-compression quality parameters were evaluated, including weight variation, hardness, thickness, friability, drug content, swelling index, surface pH, mucoadhesive strength, and in vitro drug release profile. Optimized formulations are further evaluated for analysis using FTIR and DSC, along with stability analysis in compliance with ICH regulatory standards. Results: The prepared powder mixtures showed permissible flow characteristics and conformed with all evaluated pre-compression criteria. All tablet formulations satisfied pharmacopeial standards during post-compression testing. Optimized batch F7 shows 91.78% ex vivo drug permeation and 99.1% “in vitro drug release studies. Further characterization confirmed the stability of the formulation and attributed no significant interactions between the drug and excipients throughout the” evaluation period. Conclusion: The formulated atenolol buccal mucoadhesive tablets achieved sustained release of drug and improved infusion across the buccal mucous membrane. The optimized batch complied with pharmacopeial quality benchmarks and exhibited favorable stability results, highlighting its potential as a reliable alternative to conventional oral administration for hypertension treatment