MUCOADHESIVE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Abstract

Drug actions can be improved by developing new drug delivery systems, such as the mucoadhesive system. Mucoadhesion is a field of current interest in the design of drug delivery systems. These systems remain in close contact with the absorption tissue, the mucous membrane, releasing the drug at the action site leading to a bioavailability increase and both local and systemic effects. In recent years many such mucoadhesive drug delivery systems have been developed for oral, buccal, nasal, rectal and vaginal routes for both systemic and local effects. Mucoadhesion is currently explained by six theories: electronic, adsorption, wettability, diffusion, fracture and mechanical. The aim of this study was to review the mechanisms and theories involved in mucoadhesion, as well as to describe the most-used methodologies and polymers in mucoadhesive drug delivery systems. Several in vitro and in vivo methodologies are proposed for studying its mechanisms and factors affecting mucoadhesion, Therefore It is a growth area whose goal is the development of new devices and more “intelligent” polymers, as well as the creation of new methodologies that can better elucidate the mucoadhesion phenomenon.