Oral mucosa vascular system

In order to overcome these issues, various noninvasive routes are tested for the delivery of peptides. The oral mucosa due to its high vascularity, avoidance of hepatic first-pass metabolism, and the absence of degradative enzymes normally present in the GI tract has been explored as a suitable route for peptide delivery. Several studies of peptide absorption through the oral mucosa have been conducted, and the results have been impressive in some cases, and not in the others. The development of mucoadhesive systems for buccal and sublingual delivery has increased the absorption and bioavailability of peptides, and various formulations have been developed using these systems. 

The vascular system and blood supply to the oral mucosa have been clearly described by Stablein and Meyer.Netter s excellent drawings of the blood supply to the mouth and pharynx, venous drainage of the mouth and pharynx, and lymphatic drainage of the mouth and pharynx have been published by Ciba. ... 

Stablein, M.J. Meyer, J. The vascular system and blood supply. In The Structure and Eunction of Oral Mucosa, Meyer, J., Squier, C.A., Gerson, S.J., Eds. Pergamon Press Oxford, 1984 237-256. 

Advantages of the oral mucosal route of delivery include its capacity to bypass all the limitations associated with the oral route, ease of administration, relatively low content of enzymes, and adequate vascular drainage. As described in the following sections, most of the limitations of the oral mucosa epithelium arise from its stratified nature and its intercellular content characteristics. Nonetheless, due to its direct connection to systemic circulation, delivery systems could potentially be formulated to show either bolus-like or controlled release profiles for specific therapeutic needs. Polymers used in the development of such delivery systems play a major role in the release profile, permeation enhancement, and the localization of the active in the vicinity of the absorbing mucosa. Among the various uses of polymers in delivery systems, their mucoadhesive nature is the most prominent application in the oral mucosal route and is the main focus of this entry. After describing the physiological considerations in the oral cavity mucosa, this entry will review the literature pertinent to the use of polymers in delivery systems for the oral mucosal route. 

A drug can be administered directly into the vascular compartment or by an alternative route, such as orally. It can usually be assumed that the entire dose administered by the intravenous route reaches the systemic circulation. After oral administration, only a proportion may reach the systemic circulation because of incomplete absorption or because absorbed drug may be metabolised in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal... 

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