Evaluation of rheological and mucoadhesive properties of selected nasal spray preparations with mometasone furoate
Emilia Szymańska, Katarzyna Winnicka
Intranasal preparations with mometasone furoate are recognised to be highly efficient and safe in both adults and children. Commercially available nasal sprays are characterised by thixotropic and mucoadhesive properties – factors ensuring effortless drug dosing followed by prolonged retention time in the nasal cavity. Thixotropy and mucoadhesiveness is not a constant value and it is determined by the presence of proper excipients in the preparation’s composition. The aim of the study was to compare rheological and mechanical properties of selected nasal spray formulations with mometasone furoate. In addition, these preparations were investigated for their ex vivo mucoadhesive behaviour to the porcine nasal mucosa. These experiments revealed differences in viscosity and thixotropic properties between nasal sprays depending on the measurement temperature. All analysed preparations possessed mucoadhesive properties in ex vivo conditions. Viscosity and mechanical measurements of the analysed preparations were found to be correlated with the mucoadhesive behaviour in contact with porcine nasal mucosa. An important role of the agitation process on the formulations’ hardness and consistency was also demonstrated.