Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Polymers for Nasal Delivery of Herbal Bioactives

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Special Issue 01 | Page : 1680 1689
    By

    Dattatray S. Ghotekar,

  • Ramandeep Kaur,

  • Rasika Manoj Rewatkar,

  • Ishita Sharma,

  • Sujata V. Wankhede,

  • Kavitha C,

  • Sanjeev Kumar,

  • Raosaheb Y. Ghegade,

  • Rishi Pal,

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, N.V.P. Mandal’s, Arts, Commerce, and Science College Lasalgaon, Niphad, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Pharmacy Academy, Faculty of Pharmacy, IFTM University, Lodhipur Rajput, NH-24, Delhi Road, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of CSE-ET, Ramdeobaba University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Parul University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Nagpur College of Pharmacy, Wanadongri, Hingna Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
  6. Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  7. Associate Professor, KIET School of Pharmacy, Krishna Institute of Engineering & Technology (KIET), Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, India
  8. Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacognosy, Gokhale Education Society’s, Sir Dr. M. S. Gosavi College of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
  9. Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Medical & Allied Sciences, K. R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Abstract

A study assessed mucoadhesive polymers for intranasal herbal bioactive administration with higher residence time and mucosal permeability. Chitosan, Carbopol® 934P, and HPMC K15M were utilized to manufacture mucoadhesive nasal gels with standardized herbal bioactive fractions. Formulations were examined for pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content, mucoadhesive strength, in-vitro release, ex-vivo penetration, and short-term stability. All formulations demonstrated a suitable pH for nasal usage and uniform drug content (97.48 ± 1.12% to 101.26 ± 0.94%). Pseudoplastic flow behavior (1820 ± 95 to 3540 ± 140 cP at 25 °C) indicates strong nasal retention from chitosan to Carbopol 934P to HPMC, but mucoadhesive strength varies. Chitosan-based formulation showed the maximum mucoadhesive force (39.4 ± 2.1 g), followed by Carbopol (32.6 ± 1.8 g) and HPMC (23.7 ± 1.5 g). In-vitro experiments revealed sustained herbal bioactive release over 8 hours, with chitosan releasing (85.9 ± 2.7%), Carbopol (74.8 ± 2.3%), and HPMC (79.6 ± 2.5%). Chitosan formulation was found to outperform HPMC-based systems in ex-vivo permeation investigations on freshly excised sheep nasal mucosa, with cumulative permeation of 68.4 ± 3.2% and apparent permeability coefficient of 3.87 ± 0.29 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s, 1.71-fold higher (p < 0.05). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry indicated herbal bioactive molecule dispersion in polymeric matrix and no chemical incompatibility. Stability studies at 25 ± 2 °C for 30 days showed no significant pH, drug content, or release behavior changes. Due to its superior mucoadhesion, rheology, and mucosal penetration, chitosan is the best polymeric carrier for herbal bioactive nasal administration.

Keywords: Carbopol 934P, chitosan, ex-vivo permeation, herbal bioactives, HPMC, mucoadhesive polymers, nasal drug delivery, polymeric nasal gel.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
Dattatray S. Ghotekar, Ramandeep Kaur, Rasika Manoj Rewatkar, Ishita Sharma, Sujata V. Wankhede, Kavitha C, Sanjeev Kumar, Raosaheb Y. Ghegade, Rishi Pal. Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Polymers for Nasal Delivery of Herbal Bioactives. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):1680-1689.
How to cite this URL:
Dattatray S. Ghotekar, Ramandeep Kaur, Rasika Manoj Rewatkar, Ishita Sharma, Sujata V. Wankhede, Kavitha C, Sanjeev Kumar, Raosaheb Y. Ghegade, Rishi Pal. Evaluation of Mucoadhesive Polymers for Nasal Delivery of Herbal Bioactives. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):1680-1689. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=240092


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Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Special Issue 01
Received 25/02/2026
Accepted 16/03/2026
Published 26/03/2026
Publication Time 29 Days
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