Drug Delivery of Peptides: The Buccal Route

Abstract

Peptides and proteins are currently emerging as a major class of future drugs. So far the research in this field is mainly focused on basic research covering isolation, synthesis, analysis, and biological and clinical effects. However, increasing attention is now also given to considerations regarding suitable dosage forms and routes of absorption. It is widely accepted that the most common dosage forms and routes, i.e. solid dosage forms for peroral application and sterile preparations for parenteral application, will not provide a realistic basis for a widespread use of these drugs in the future. This is because (i) most oligopeptides and proteins are not readily absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. due to the presence of proteolytic enzymes and the low permeability of the gut membranes to such often hydrophilic compounds. And also (ii) parenteral application, certainly, is of limited suitability to long term treatments and frequent use of drugs.