Mucoadhesive delivery system

Noninvasive drug delivery may require the administration of the drug delivery system (DDS) at an epithelium as a suitable site of absorption of the active compormd. Such regions are usually called mucosae. In the human body several mucosal sites can be identified, the one mostly used for administration and absorption of therapeutics being the gastrointestinal route. In order to increase the residence time at these absorption sites, a so-called mucoadhesive delivery system has to be used. Generally, these systems consist of one or more types of hydrogels. 

In the past decade several difficulties have been encountered in the design of successful mucoadhesive delivery systems for peroral applications. The reasons may... 

More recently, increasing research attention has focused upon the use of mucoadhesive delivery systems in which the biopharmaceutical is formulated with/encapsulated in molecules which interact with the intestinal mucosa membranes. The strategy is obviously to retain the drug at the absorbing surface for a prolonged period. Non-specific (charge-based) interactions can be achieved by the use of polyacrylic acid, while more biospecific interactions are achieved by using selected lectins or bacterial adhesion proteins. Despite intensive efforts, however, the successful delivery of biopharmaceuticals via the oral route remains some way off. 

Nafee, N.A., et al. 2004. Mucoadhesive delivery systems. I. Evaluation of mucoadhesive polymers for buccal tablet formulation. Drug Dev Ind Pharm 30 985. 

Jimenez-Castellanos, M. R., Zia, H., and Rhodes, C. T. Mucoadhesive delivery systems. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy. 19 143—194, 1993. 

Ugwoke, M. I., Sam, E., Van Den Mooter, G, Verbeke, N., and Kinget, R. (1999), Nasal mucoadhesive delivery systems of the anti-parkinsonian drug, apomorphine Influence of drug-loading on in vitro and in vivo release in rabbits, Int. J. Pharm., 181,125-138. 

Oh, Y. K., Park, J. S., Yoon, H., and Kim, C. K. (2003), Enhanced mucosal and systemic immune responses to a vaginal vaccine coadministered with RANTES-expressing plasmid DNA using in situ-gelling mucoadhesive delivery system, Vaccine, 21, 1980-1988. 

Additionally, a mucoadhesive delivery system designed for controlled release of active compounds should be localized at specific sites of administration and absorption, and should prolong the residence time of the active compound at the site of administration to permit, if possible for one daily dosing. 

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a non-ionic water-soluble and pH insensitive cellulose ether. It can be used as thickening agent, tablet binder and modified release and film coating polymer. Buccal delivery formulations containing HPC and polyacrylic acid are used for many years and is used for mucoadhesive delivery systems for several drugs. 

L.H. Chuah, N. Billa, C.J. Roberts, J.C. Burley, and S. Manickam, Curcumin-containing chitosan nanoparticles as a potential mucoadhesive delivery system to the colon, Pharm. Dev. Technol, 18 (3), 591-599, 2013. 

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