In vitro and in silico investigation of electrospun terbinafine hydrochloride-loaded buccal nanofibrous sheets

• Terbinafine hydrochloride loaded nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning.
• Drug loaded nanofibers exhibited immediate drug release.
• In silico evaluation was carried out by GastroPlusTM software.
• Buccal nanofibrous sheets enabled local antifungal drug release.
• Predicted systemic drug exposure was least in case of hold and expectorate model.

Terbinafine hydrochloride-loaded nanofibrous buccal films were formulated with the aim to improve the solubility and dissolution behavior; thus, the local effectiveness of the antifungal agent. Poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan polymer composites were selected as delivery base in order to enhance the mucoadhesion of the fibrous films. The dissolution of terbinafine hydrochloride was carried out applying a stainless steel disc assembly and the terbinafine concentration was determined by HPLC–MS in selective ion monitoring mode. The prediction of the absorption behavior of the prepared fibrous samples in the human oral cavity was modeled using GastroPlus™ software. The result indicates that the fibrous films enabled fast and complete dissolution of the active agent. The drug absorption from the oral cavity could be minimized by the employment of the proper oral transit model. Because of the limited absorption of terbinafine hydrochloride from the oral mucosa the formulation can be beneficial in local administration in the case of hold and expectorate administration mode.

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