Review of transmucosal drug delivery

Abstract

The epithelial barrier limits the quantity of drug that can be delivered by a topical route for either local or systemic treatment. Any chemical that can help to reversibly minimize the epithelial barrier would improve drug uptake. Permeabilizers are such chemicals, and their mode of action generally involves fluidization of the intercellular lipid in the epithelial barrier. The vehicle in which the permeabilizer is delivered is equally important and needs to be specifically tailored to the solubility properties of the drug. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate permeabilizer and vehicle can make the delivery of medication across the oral mucosa a feasible option.