The use of mucoadhesive polymers in vaginal delivery

The vagina is an important area of the reproductive tract and serves as a potential route of drug administration. Beside locally acting drugs it is also of importance for systemic drug delivery, uterine targeting or even vaccination. Currently available dosage forms have several limitations, therefore novel concepts and dosage forms are needed. In this field mucoadhesive polymers will play a major role. After discussion of the anatomy and physiology of the vagina this review highlights the most important studies based on mucoadhesive polymer-systems like poly(acrylates), chitosan, cellulose derivatives, hyaluronic acid derivatives, pectin and traganth, starch, poly(ethylene glycol), sulfated polysaccharides, carrageenan, Na-alginate and gelatine.