Buccal drug delivery system: History and recent developments

Abstract

Being an alternate method of systemic drug delivery, oral mucosal drug delivery proves to be advantageous over both injectable and enteral methods. Because of the mucosal surface usually being rich in blood supply, it enhances drug bioavailability, thereby enabling rapid drug transport to the systemic circulation. Moreover, in most cases, it avoids degradation by first-pass hepatic metabolism. The drug absorption takes place faster as it is in contact with the absorption surface. The drug delivery system helps the drug to remain at the same place of application longer for once or twice daily dosing. For some drugs, the alternate way of administration results in novel methods of action as opposed to the above-said procedure. The characteristics of the oral mucosa as well as physicochemical properties of the drug pose as a hindrance to the oral mucosal administration of some drugs. Commercial availability of drug is restricted, although most of the drugs are qualitatively assessed for oral transmucosal delivery. The clinical benefit produced by an oral transmucosal dosage form is good even though the production of this dosage form is expensive. Transmucosal products are the recent drug delivery strategies. Delivery through transmucosal products benefits the absorption 4 times than that of the skin. Considering the availability of products, only some drugs are used for oral transmucosal delivery. Hence, new drugs have to be processed and developed to meet the limited transmucosal drug delivery. The present paper intends to emphasize the importance of oral transmucosal drug delivery and also highlights on the latest advancement in the field.