A novel riboflavin gastro-mucoadhesive delivery system based on ion-exchange fiber.

A novel gastro-mucoadhesive delivery system based on ion-exchange fiber has been developed. Riboflavin-5'-phosphate sodium salt (RF5P), which is site-specifically absorbed from the upper gastrointestinal tract, was used as model drug. A modified dissolution system, which can also be called 'flow through diffusion cell' (FTDC), was used to study the drug release from the drug fibers. Gastrointestinal transit studies of the RF5P fiber complexes in rats and gamma imaging study in volunteer was carried out to evaluate the gastro-retentive behavior of the fiber. The pharmacokinetic profile and parameters of riboflavin via analysis of urinary excretion of riboflavin on man were measured. Study on rat and man provide evidence for the validity of the hypothesis that the drug fiber provided good mucoadhesive properties in vivo and should therefore be of considerable interest for the development of future mucoadhesive oral drug delivery dosage forms.