Mucoadhesive polymers for buccal drug delivery

Raising the concept of mucoadhesion in the 1980s, the use of mucoadhesive polymers for buccal drug delivery has been the subject of interest. Buccal route is one of the non-invasive routes comprising several advantages such as targeting the specific tissue (I), bypassing the first-pass effect (II) as well as higher patient compliance (III) and higher bioavailability (IV) have rendered administration route feasible for a variety of drugs. This review highlights the use of mucoadhesive polymers in buccal drug delivery. An overview of the oral mucosa’s anatomy, theories of mucoadhesion as well as mucoadhesive polymers is given within this review. Furthermore, recent advantages in mucoadhesive polymers according to the variety of drug delivery forms are presented.