Study of local anaesthetics--Part 196 formulation of the local anaesthetic heptacaine into hydrogel on the basis of chitosan.

The study aimed to formulate the local anaesthetic heptacaine into hydrogels on the basis of chitosan. The gel-creating compounds used included natural polymers --three different types of chitosan, namely those of a medium molecular weight, from the shells of shrimp, and from the bumblebees species Bombus terrestris. The prepared hydrogels were evaluated on the basis of their rheological properties and drug liberation. From the point of drug liberation and flow properties, the optimal gel composition was as follows: 0.1% heptacaine + 2% chitosan (medium molecular weight) + 0.2% carbaethopendecinium bromide.