Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery
To successfully achieve mucoadhesion in pharmaceutical products, the choice of excipient in your formulation is key.
Lubrizol’s Carbopol® polymers and Noveon® polycarbophil are high quality excipients offering superior mucoadhesive performance compared to other polymers. When compared in vitro, study data demonstrates that Carbopol polymers and Noveon polycarbophil provide longer retention times on mucosa than other polymers see Figure 1 for an example and download our tech brief to see more.
Benefits of Mucoadhesive Formulations
Lubrizol’s Carbopol polymers and Noveon polycarbophil:
- Can provide longer, enhanced retention of active ingredients at the target site
- Lubricate mucosal tissue in a variety of dosage forms (e.g. mouthwash to treat for dry mouth, lozenge for a sore throat)
- Allow for formulation flexibility due to multiple available polymer grades
- Provide muco-protective capabilities to a formulation (e.g. a canker sore cover)
- Offer a new opportunity for product claim differentiation
Applicable Dosage Forms
- Topical gels and creams (oral, vaginal, rectal, etc.)
- Patches and films
- Oral solutions and suspensions
- Eye drops
- Nasal sprays
- Lozenges and buccal tablets
- Toothpastes and mouthwashes
Download the Tech Brief
This technical brief will cover the use of polymers in a variety of dosage forms (buccal/sublingual tablets, liquid, semi-solid formulations, and oral care products) to impart mucoadhesion. The basic mechanism of mucoadhesion and methods to evaluate it in the context of pharmaceutical applications will also be reviewed, also how it can improve and differentiate drug products.
Download the Guide
Looking to improve drug product effectiveness and differentiate? Mucoadhesion – the ability of a formulation to adhere to a mucous membrane – is an attractive option for those keen to ensure their products stand out in a crowded market.