Mucoadhesive drug delivery system: An overview

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutics
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems interact with mucosal surfaces, prolonging drug contact time.
• Increased residence time is crucial for drugs requiring local action or enhanced absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the fundamental mechanisms and theories behind mucoadhesion.
• To identify key factors influencing the performance of mucoadhesive devices.
• To provide an overview of various mucoadhesive dosage forms.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of scientific publications on mucoadhesion.
• Synthesis of information on mucoadhesion theories and influencing factors.
• Categorization and description of different mucoadhesive dosage forms.

Main Results:

• Mucoadhesion relies on interactions between dosage forms and mucin molecules.
• Factors such as contact time, surface area, and environmental conditions affect mucoadhesion.
• Various mucoadhesive systems, including gels, films, and nanoparticles, have been developed.

Conclusions:

• Mucoadhesive systems offer significant advantages for drug delivery, improving drug plasma concentrations and therapeutic efficacy.
• Understanding mucoadhesion mechanisms and influencing factors is key to designing effective mucoadhesive dosage forms.
• Further research into novel mucoadhesive materials and formulations can optimize drug delivery.