ENHANCING THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY WITH MUCOADHESIVE DRUG DELIVERY.

The buccal region within the mucosal cavity of the mouth provides an alternative route over an oral drug administration for systemic as well as local drug delivery. As the buccal mucosa has an abundant blood supply and is relatively permeable, it can be considered as most accessible and desired location for both local and systemic drug delivery. The buccal method for medication delivery greatly helps in avoiding issues in the gastrointestinal environment, such as increased first-pass metabolism and medication degradation. Muco-adhesive systems offer varieties of advantages such as convenience in administration and termination of therapy in case of emergency, higher patient compliance, better bioavailability, rapid absorption, etc. This current review highlights the Muco-adhesive drug delivery system, its advantages and limitations, mechanisms and theories of mucoadhesion, different Muco-adhesive dosage forms, and bioadhesive polymers. It also highlights the current status on mucoadhesive drug delivery methods for the buccal cavity or Muco-adhesive systems. 

Keywords: Bioadhesion, mucoadhesion, Muco-adhesive drug delivery system, oral mucosa, first-pass metabolism, bioadhesive polymers.