Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy & bioallied science Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 89 - 100
• Main Authors: Shaikh, Rahamatullah, Raj Singh, ThakurRaghu, Garland, MartinJames, Woolfson, ADavid, Donnelly, RyanF
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 2011; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Bioavailability; Bond strength; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell adhesion molecules; Contact angle; Drug delivery systems; Drugs; Human subjects; Immunization; Invited Review; Mucoadhesion; mucoadhesive drug delivery systems; mucoadhesive materials; Nanoparticles; Polymers; Theory; Vehicles; Wound healing; India; mucoadhesive drug delivery systems; Mucoadhesion; mucoadhesive materials
• ISSN: 0975-7406; 0976-4879; 0975-7406; 0976-4879
• DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.76478

Mucoadhesion is commonly defined as the adhesion between two materials, at least one of which is a mucosal surface. Over the past few decades, mucosal drug delivery has received a great deal of attention. Mucoadhesive dosage forms may be designed to enable prolonged retention at the site of application, providing a controlled rate of drug release for improved therapeutic outcome. Application of dosage forms to mucosal surfaces may be of benefit to drug molecules not amenable to the oral route, such as those that undergo acid degradation or extensive first-pass metabolism. The mucoadhesive ability of a dosage form is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the nature of the mucosal tissue and the physicochemical properties of the polymeric formulation. This review article aims to provide an overview of the various aspects of mucoadhesion, mucoadhesive materials, factors affecting mucoadhesion, evaluating methods, and finally various mucoadhesive drug delivery systems (buccal, nasal, ocular, gastro, vaginal, and rectal).