An Overview on Natural Polymer Based Mucoadhesive Buccal Films for Controlled Drug Delivery

Abstract

Mucoadhesion is the process where polymers attach to biological substrate or a synthetic or natural macromolecule, to mucus or an epithelial surface. When the biological substrate is attached to a mucosal layer then this phenomenon is known as mucoadhesion. The substrate possessing bio adhesive polymer can help in drug delivery for a prolonged period of time at a specific delivery site. Natural polymers have recently gained importance in pharmaceutical field. Mucoadhesive polymers are used to improve drug delivery by enhancing the dosage form’s contact time and residence time with the mucous membrane. The studies of mucoadhesive polymers provide a good approach of mucoadhesion and some factors which have the ability to affect the mucoadhesive properties of a polymer. Both natural and synthetic polymers are used for the preparation of mucoadhesive buccal films. Various natural polymers which can be used in mucoadhesive buccal films are chitosan, sodium alginate, tragacanth, gelatin and guar gum etc. This review is an effort to summarize the work done till date and to show the future pathway of mucoadhesive buccal films preparation using natural polymer.