Transmucosal
Transmucosal delivery is an effective means to introduce drugs across the mucous membrane to the systemic circulation, avoiding the gastrointestinal tract and "first pass liver metabolism," which can result in only a small proportion of a drug reaching the desired targets in the body. The ease of transmucosal administration, by nebulizers or sprays, for example, often improves patient compliance compared to other forms of drug delivery such as injection.
The body’s mucous membranes occur primarily in the mouth and the nose. Their permeability allows for the systemic uptake of drugs painlessly and at a steady rate of delivery, bypassing the stomach environment and first-pass liver metabolism.
The Mouth
In the mouth, the areas beneath the tongue and in the cheek are most useful for these transfer purposes, whereas drugs for locally bounded oral treatment may be applied elsewhere as needed in the mouth. But the nature of the mucosal membranes in comparison to the epidermis means that special polymer bio adhesives with different properties other than those employed in epidermal patches must be formulated and tested.
The Nose
Uptake of drugs via nasal sprays is so common as to seem old hat at times, anti-inflammatory preparation and anti-influenza drugs are well known in healthcare circles, but this familiarity conceals some other novel applications
Advantages:
For systemic drug delivery:
The body’s mucous membranes occur primarily in the mouth and the nose. Their permeability allows for the systemic uptake of drugs painlessly and at a steady rate of delivery, bypassing the stomach environment and first-pass liver metabolism.
The Mouth
In the mouth, the areas beneath the tongue and in the cheek are most useful for these transfer purposes, whereas drugs for locally bounded oral treatment may be applied elsewhere as needed in the mouth. But the nature of the mucosal membranes in comparison to the epidermis means that special polymer bio adhesives with different properties other than those employed in epidermal patches must be formulated and tested.
The Nose
Uptake of drugs via nasal sprays is so common as to seem old hat at times, anti-inflammatory preparation and anti-influenza drugs are well known in healthcare circles, but this familiarity conceals some other novel applications
Advantages:
For systemic drug delivery:
- Rapid onset of action
- Sustained delivery for a period up to 3 hours
- Improved drug absorption
- Multiple release profiles
- Localized drug release
- Sustained delivery of products over a pre-determined period of time
- Convenient non-obtrusive device which confirms to the mucosal surface
- Ease of application