1Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India
2*Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
3Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
4Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
5Research scholar, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
6Research scholar, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
7Research scholar, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
8Research scholar, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
9Research scholar, School of Pharmacy and Emerging Sciences, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Baddi, Solan - 173205, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Hypertension is a leading cardiovascular disorder, increasing the risk of stroke, heart failure, and renal diseases. Despite effective drugs, conventional oral therapies often face poor patient compliance due to complex regimens and side effects. Irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), has limited oral bioavailability (60–80%) due to extensive first-pass metabolism. To overcome this, mucoadhesive buccal films were developed to enhance its pharmacokinetic profile and patient compliance. Using the solvent casting method, ten Irbesartan buccal film formulations (F1–F10) were prepared with Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC E15) and Eudragit L100 as polymers and PEG 400 as plasticizer. The films were evaluated for thickness, weight uniformity, surface pH, drug content, folding endurance, swelling index, and in vitro drug release. Formulation F5 emerged as optimal, showing high drug content (~99.4%), excellent folding endurance, and sustained drug release for over 10 hours. Its physicochemical properties were within pharmacopeial limits and suitable for buccal retention. In contrast, F9 exhibited surface pores, leading to inconsistent release. This study demonstrates that F5 buccal films can improve Irbesartan bioavailability and offer a patient-friendly approach for hypertension management. Further in vivo studies are suggested to confirm clinical efficacy.
Keywords: Irbesartan, Buccal film, Hypertension, Mucoadhesive, HPMC E15, Eudragit L100, PEG 400, Sustained release, Solvent casting, First-pass metabolism.
How to cite this article: Sharma B, Sharma S, Singh V, Sharma A, Chauhan A, Sharma I, Nancy, Chandel R, Thakur S, Formulation and Evaluation of Irbesartan-Loaded Buccal Films: A Novel Approach to Enhance Patient Compliance in Hypertension Management. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(6s): 282-297; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.6s.33
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None