Background: The buccal route offers an effective alternative for drug delivery, bypassing first-pass metabolism and providing enhanced bioavailability. This study evaluates the performance of mucoadhesive buccal films and tablets for drug delivery, focusing on their physicochemical properties, drug release, permeation, and mucoadhesion.

Methods: Mucoadhesive films and tablets were prepared using polymers such as chitosan, HPMC, and PVA, with penetration enhancers like sodium lauryl sulfate and menthol. Formulations were characterized for thickness, weight uniformity, drug content, swelling index, permeation flux, drug release, and mucoadhesion strength using in vitro models.

Results: Films exhibited faster drug release (92% for propranolol and 75% for testosterone within 2 hours) and higher permeation flux (8.2 µg/cm²/h for propranolol) than tablets. Chitosan-based formulations showed the highest mucoadhesion strength (0.45 N). Tablets provided sustained drug release, making them suitable for prolonged therapeutic applications.