Buccal drug delivery adhesive patches

Sustained adhesion of the dosage form (tablet, patch) to the mucosa is an important first step to successful buccal delivery. The mucus plays an important role during this mucoadhe-sive process by buccal drug delivery systems. The interaction between the mucus and mucoadhesive polymers generally used in most dosage forms can be explained by theories summarized in Table 9.1. 

Anders R, Merkle HP. Evaluation of laminated muco-adhesive patches for buccal drug delivery. Int J Pharm 1989 49 231-240. 

Special formulations are now in development to provide prolonged mucosal adhesion and sustained delivery of drug through the buccal membrane. Such formulations comprise flexible adhesive patches and films. Important features for drug delivery associated with these novel buccal patches include ... 

Buccal dosage forms can be of the tablet, patch, gel, or ointment type and can be employed for local or systemic delivery. For local deliveiy, conventional dosage forms such as solutions and various types of tablets (immediate release, effervescent, etc.) are more suitable. These forms generally have uncontrolled drug release with subsequent variable absorption and short residence times, and may not provide sufficient bioavailability. Novel dosage forms such as adhesive tablets, patches, gels, and... 

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