Preparation and in vitro evaluation of thermosensitive and mucoadhesive hydrogels for intranasal delivery of phenobarbital sodium.

Background: Recently, intranasal administration has been suggested as a potential direct route to transport pharmaceuticals into the brain through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. Materials & methods: The nasal hydrogels were prepared by a cold method using pluronic F-12 and chitosan. Results: All the selected formulations were gelled at 30°C. The gelation time varied from 5 to 10 min. The mucoadhesive strength was adequate to provide prolonged mucosal adhesion. The formulations exhibited good drug content after stability period of 3 months. The permeability studies revealed a high permeation of the drug through the surgically removed nasal tissue. Conclusion: The results suggest that the obtained hydrogels might be suitable candidates for the nasal delivery of phenobarbital sodium.