Formulation And Evaluation Of Mucoadhesive Microspheres Of Tramadol For Nasal Delivery

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate mucoadhesive microspheres of Tramadol hydrochloride for nasal delivery to enhance its bioavailability and provide rapid onset of action for pain management. Tramadol, a centrally acting analgesic, undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism when administered orally. In this study, chitosan was employed as a natural mucoadhesive polymer, and microspheres were prepared by the emulsification cross-linking polymerization technique using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. The formulated microspheres were evaluated for particle size, surface morphology, drug entrapment efficiency (69.90%–80.76%), swelling index, in-vitro mucoadhesion (62.27-74.65%), and in-vitro drug release. The results indicated that the microspheres were spherical with a particle size range suitable for nasal deposition (11-39 µm). In-vitro release studies over six hours at pH 6.8, showed an initial burst followed by a controlled release pattern. The mucoadhesive property of chitosan significantly prolonged the residence time of the drug on the nasal mucosa. It was concluded that Tramadol-loaded chitosan microspheres represent a promising intranasal delivery system for systemic pain management.