Polymers in designing the mucoadhesive films: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Considering the compliance of patients and ease of administration, the oral cavity is profoundly chosen to deliver drugs. This article focuses on mucoadhesive buccal drug delivery system providing sustained release of the drug. The drug of choice for buccal delivery is those which undergoes high first-pass metabolism or undergo acid degradation. This review article aims to focus on various aspects of buccal films, factors affecting mucoadhesion and its evaluating parameters. Different theories involved in mucoadhesion process and along with the polymers that are involved in developing different categories of films have been focused. Factors influencing the polymers involved flexibility, molecular weight, charge, etc., are also considered in this review. Most commonly used polymers in the development of mucoadhesive films are lectins, starch, pectins, and cellulose derivatives, etc. Several agents such as penetration enhancers and mucoadhesive agents are employed to develop an ideal film. These dosage forms are formulated using two processes, namely film casting method and hot-melt extrusion method. The developed films are evaluated based on multiple parameters such as surface pH, flatness, tensile strength, and peel strength. This review gives an overall view of different polymers that are used to develop the mucoadhesive films and compare their degree of mucoadhesion along with their parametric tests to evaluate the developed films.