Bioadhesive and release studies on riboflavine granulations prepared from cissus gum coprecipitated with gelatin

Mucosa-adhesive polymers can be used as useful means of delivering drug to mucosal membranes, and in particular intestinal and gastric mucosa. Cissus gum from Cissus vogelii has not been studied as mucosa-adhesive material, but being a good local soup thickener, it might be a good candidate for drug targeting based on mucosa-adhesive properties. Its adhesive strength and that of varying admixtures of gelatin coprecipitates were examined for bioadhesiveness in this study. Cissus-gelatin hydrophilic polymer containing either one or the two with a total polymer concentration of 2.5 %w/v were prepared and coprecipitated using analytical grade of acetone and tested for their mucosa-adhesive strength on freshly excised hog intestinal ileum (as a model mucosa) using simulated intestinal fluid of pH 7.5 and also the modified Lecomte Du Nouy Tensiometer. Release studies on riboflavine granulations prepared with the co-precipitated cissus-gelatin gum were also investigated. It was established that cissus gum possesses bioadhesive properties which could be used in gastrointestinal tract drug delivery. The bioadhesive properties of cissum gum were modified when coprecipitated with gelatin.