2 Applications of Polymers in Buccal Drug Delivery

Absorption of drugs through the oral cavity was noted as early as 1847 and systemic studies of oral cavity absorption were first reported in 1935 [1]. Since then, substantial effort has been focused on drug absorption from a drug delivery system in a particular region of the oral cavity [2-5]. As a site for drug delivery, the oral cavity offers many advantages over other routes of drug administration. The mucosal lining of the oral cavity are readily accessible [6], robust, and heal rapidly after local stress or damage [6-8]. Oral mucosal drug delivery systems can be localised easily and are well accepted by patients [9]. The mucosal membranes of the oral cavity can be divided into five regions: