Mucoadhesive Polymers for Oral Transmucosal Drug Delivery: A Review
2012
The oral mucosa offers an interesting site for the application of dosage forms that release drugs within/throughout the oral mucosa,
by assuring a high drug bioavailability for topic and systemic effects. However, the relative permeability of the oral mucosa and the
washing effect related to the oral fluids and mechanical stresses must be considered in the formulation of oral dosage forms. Since a sustained
drug release can be guaranteed only if dosage forms remain in contact with the oral site of absorption/application for a prolonged
time, the development of mucoadhesive dosage forms is mandatory. The mucoadhesion is a complex phenomenon and the mucoadhesive
bond consists of two different parts, the mucoadhesive polymers and the mucous substrate. In addition to factors related to the oral mucosa
and oral environment features, the physical-chemical characteristics of mucoadhesive polymers must be also considered as factors
influencing the mucoadhesive bonds. While it is not possible to modify the mucosal features or it is possible to modify or inhibit only in
part certain mucosal processes, the knowledge of polymer properties influencing mucoadhesive bonds allows to modify or to control
these properties in developing increasingly effective mucoadhesive systems. The aims of this review are to discuss the several mechanisms
and factors behind the phenomenon of mucoadhesion with particular reference to the features of the oral environment, oral mucosa,
and polymeric compounds influencing mucoadhesion process. Finally, a brief mention to the main mucoadhesive dosage forms designed
for oral transmucosal drug delivery is made.
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