Beyond traditional therapy: Mucoadhesive polymers as a new frontier in oral cancer management

Abstract

In recent times mucoadhesive drug delivery systems are gaining popularity in oral cancer. It is a malignancy with high global prevalence. Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutics, improving the prognosis of late‐stage oral cancer remains challenging. Targeted therapy using mucoadhesive polymers can improve oral cancer patients' overall outcome by offering enhanced oral mucosa bioavailability, better drug distribution and tissue targeting, and minimizing systemic side effects. Mucoadhesive polymers can also be delivered via different formulations such as tablets, films, patches, gels, and nanoparticles. These polymers can deliver an array of medicines, making them an adaptable drug delivery approach. Drug delivery techniques based on these mucoadhesive polymers are gaining traction and have immense potential as a prospective treatment for late‐stage oral cancer. This review examines leading research in mucoadhesive polymers and discusses their potential applications in treating oral cancer.

Emerging polymeric materials for treatment of oral diseases: design strategy towards a unique oral environment

“…Considering that oral cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, reviews are continuously presented concomitant with the progress in the targeted treatment of oral cancer, including exosomes, 33 intraoral polymeric delivery systems, 34 and mucoadhesive polymers. 35 Therefore, this review will not include a specific discussion on the treatment of oral cancer.…”