42FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION OF MUCOADHESIVE BUCCAL PATCHES OF OMEPRAZOLEThe goal of the present investigation was to design and evaluate mucoadhesive buccal patches of omeprazole, 5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3, 5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl) methyl] sulphinyl]-1H-benzimidazole. It is a substituted benzimidazole compound and prototype anti-secretory agent. It is the first “proton pump inhibitor” widely used in the prophylaxis and treatment of gastro duodenal ulcers and the treatment of symptomatic gastro - esophageal reflux. It interacts with H+/K+ ATPase in the secretory membranes of the parietal cells and it is very effective in the treatment of the Zollinger–Ellison syndrome. Bioadhesive formulations have a wide scope of application for both systemic and local effects of the drug. FTIR method revealed that there was no interaction between omeprazole and polymers. Omeprazole patches were prepared using HPMC K15 and carbopol 940.The patches were evaluated for their thickness, folding endurance, weight and content uniformity, swelling behaviour, mucoadhesive strength and surface pH. In-vitro release studies were conducted for omeprazole -loaded patches in phosphate buffer (pH, 6.8) solution. Patches exhibited drug release in the range of 72.31 to 96.13% in 8 hours. Data of In-vitro release from patches were fed into kinetic models (Higuchi and Korsmeyer -Peppas models) to explain release profiles. The optimized formulation (patch IV) showed zero order release.reddy.bindu639@gmail.comResearch412014Omeprazole, Buccal patches,In-vitro release,EvaluationBindu Reddy S,Ravindra Reddy KDepartment of Pharmaceutics, PRRM College of Pharmacy, Prakruthi Nagar, Utukur, Nagarajpeta, Kadapa Dist, Andhra Pradesh, India-516003,Department of Pharmaceutics, PRRM College of Pharmacy, Prakruthi Nagar, Utukur, Nagarajpeta, Kadapa Dist, Andhra Pradesh, India-516003