Intranasal Delivery: Formulation Factors and Insights Into User Experience

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Sensory Science

Background:

• Nasal spray unpleasant sensory attributes (bitterness, burning) significantly reduce patient compliance and product acceptance.
• Existing research on nasal spray acceptability is fragmented across academic and industrial studies.
• A comprehensive overview is needed to address user experience as a critical product requirement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize existing literature on factors influencing nasal spray user experience.
• To identify and categorize attributes contributing to negative sensory perceptions post-intranasal application.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving nasal spray formulations and devices to maximize patient compliance.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review and collation of studies from pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical domains.
• Categorization of factors impacting nasal spray experience (nasal anatomy, formulation, device properties, excipients).
• Analysis of product-device interactions and novel excipient applications for sensory attribute modulation.

Main Results:

• Unpleasant sensations are influenced by nasal anatomy, formulation composition, dosage, and device characteristics.
• Taste masking agents, flavors, and novel polymers can effectively modulate sensory attributes.
• Understanding product-device interactions is crucial for mitigating adverse sensory effects.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing nasal spray formulations with specific excipients can significantly improve user experience and reduce negative sensations.
• Addressing sensory attributes is essential for enhancing patient compliance with intranasal therapies.
• Further research into novel excipients and formulation strategies can lead to superior nasal spray products.