Abstract
Buccal mucosal membrane offers an attractive drug-delivery route to enhance both systemic and local therapy. This review discusses the benefits and drawbacks of buccal drug delivery, anatomical and physiological aspects of oral mucosa, and various in vitro techniques frequently used for examining buccal drug-delivery systems. The role of mucoadhesive polymers, penetration enhancers, and enzyme inhibitors to circumvent the formulation challenges particularly due to salivary renovation cycle, masticatory effect, and limited absorption area are summarized. Biocompatible mucoadhesive films and patches are favored dosage forms for buccal administration because of flexibility, comfort, lightness, acceptability, capacity to withstand mechanical stress, and customized size. Preparation methods, scale-up process and manufacturing of buccal films are briefed. Ongoing and completed clinical trials of buccal film formulations designed for systemic delivery are tabulated. Polymeric or lipid nanocarriers incorporated in buccal film to resolve potential formulation and drug-delivery issues are reviewed. Vaccine-enabled buccal films have the potential ability to produce both antibodies mediated and cell mediated immunity. Advent of novel 3D printing technologies with built-in flexibility would allow multiple drug combinations as well as compartmentalization to separate incompatible drugs. Exploring new functional excipients with potential capacity for permeation enhancement of particularly large-molecular-weight hydrophilic drugs and unstable proteins, oligonucleotides are the need of the hour for rapid advancement in the exciting field of buccal drug delivery.
Highlights
The buccal region is an attractive site for target-specific delivery of the active(s) on the mucosa for local and/or systemic effect by absorbing through the mucosal membrane barrier covering the oral cavity
The main objective of the current review is to highlight the recent advancement of nanocarrier-based buccal drug-delivery systems and various strategies to overcome the formulation and drugdelivery challenges involving buccal mucosa
This study indicates that liposomes in buccal film can potentially enhance the drug permeation as well as extend the duration of action for a long period
Summary
The buccal region is an attractive site for target-specific delivery of the active(s) on the mucosa for local and/or systemic effect by absorbing through the mucosal membrane barrier covering the oral cavity. In comparison to oral drug delivery, the mucosal lining of the buccal region has a few unique advantages It is highly vascularized and displays a decreased enzymatic activity, less sensitivity, ease of administration and expulsion of dosage form in the case of undesirable effects, avoiding acid hydrolysis of the stomach and Pharmaceutics 2021, 13, 1206. Buccal administration exhibits better patient adherence in contrast to other non-oral drug-delivery routes This route is excellent for potent drugs especially targeted for acute conditions with rapid clinical response due to direct access to the jugular vein and for extended therapeutic effect. Accidental swallowing of saliva may affect the bioavailability of the drugs whereas inadvertent ingestion of this delivery system can induce choking in pediatrics, geriatrics, and patients with dysphagia. The application of such a delivery system restricts regular food intake and causes discomfort to the patients
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