MUCOADHESIVE MICROSPHERES: A REVIEW

Carrier technology provides an interesting as well as an intelligent approach for the delivery of drug. It offers delivery of drug by coupling the drug to a carrier particle such as microspheres, mucoadhesive microspheres nanoparticles, liposomes, etc. Mucoadhesive microspheres constitute an important part of this particulate drug delivery system because of their small size and other efficient properties. Mucoadhesive microspheres plays a vital role in the novel drug delivery system. Some drug delivery problems are overcome by producing controlled drug delivery system which enhances the therapeutic efficacy of a drug. From various approaches one approach is to using mucoadhesive microsphere as a carrier system for drug delivery. Mucoadhesive microspheres exhibit a prolonged residence time at the site of application or absorption and facilitate an intimate contact with the underlying absorption surface and thus contribute to improved and better therapeutic performance of drugs and also mucoadhesive microspheres have advantages like efficient absorption and enhanced bioavailability of the drugs due to a high surface to volume ratio, a much more intimate contact with the mucus layer,controlled and sustained release of drug from dosage form and specific targeting of drugs to the absorption site. Mucoadhesive microspheres have been developed for oral, buccal, nasal, ocular, rectal and vaginal for either systemic or local effects. It is an ideal targeting system with high safty profile. This review article gives the information about mucoadhesion and theories of mucoadhesion. It also contains a number of available methods of preparation of mucoadhesive microspheres. Keywords: Mucoadhesion, mucoadhesive microspheres,mucoadhesive polymers,application.