Orally disintegrating films containing propolis: properties and release profile

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Pharmaceutics
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Orally disintegrating films (ODFs) offer an alternative drug delivery route for oral administration.
• Propolis extract possesses antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but its oral delivery requires suitable formulations.
• Hydrolyzed collagen and gelatin are biocompatible polymers with potential for film formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To produce and characterize ODFs based on gelatin and hydrolyzed collagen incorporating propolis ethanol extract.
• To evaluate the influence of hydrolyzed collagen concentration and propolis extract on film properties.
• To assess the mechanical, mucoadhesive, swelling, release kinetics, stability, and antimicrobial activity of the developed ODFs.

Main Methods:

• Film casting technique was employed to prepare ODFs with varying hydrolyzed collagen concentrations and propolis extract.
• Characterization included mechanical testing, mucoadhesion assays, swelling degree determination, and in vitro release studies.
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze interactions between components.
• Antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Results:

• Increased hydrolyzed collagen concentration led to less resistant and more elastic films.
• Films containing propolis extract exhibited enhanced mechanical resistance and mucoadhesion compared to controls.
• All formulations showed high swelling capacity, facilitating rapid drug release.
• FTIR analysis indicated interactions between propolis compounds and the polymer matrix, improving mechanical properties.
• Films with propolis extract demonstrated good stability and significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusions:

• ODFs formulated with gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen, and propolis extract are feasible and possess desirable properties for oral delivery.
• The incorporation of propolis extract enhances mucoadhesion and antimicrobial efficacy, making these films promising for oral mucosal applications.
• The developed ODFs show potential for delivering active compounds to the oral cavity, leveraging the benefits of propolis.