Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Periodontal Films Containing Metronidazole

Local delivery devices are designed to deliver the drug locally into periodontal pocket. Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole used to treat protozoal infections. For local delivery, metronidazole films were prepared by solvent casting technique using ethyl cellulose, hydroxy propyl methylcellulose and eudragit RL-100 with dibutylphthalate and polyethylene glycol 400 as plasticizers. FTIR and UV spectroscopic methods revealed no interaction between metronidazole and polymers. The films were evaluated for their thickness uniformity, folding endurance, weight uniformity, content uniformity, tensile strength, and surface pH. Data of in-vitro release from films were fit to different equations and kinetic models to explain release kinetics. Hixon-Crowell, Higuchi, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models were used to fit the in-vitro release data. Formulation F6 released 94.18% of drug at the end of 120 h, was considered as best formulation. Short-term stability study revealed that drug content decreased in various films was ranging from 1.361 to 2.209%.