Polymeric Biomaterials for Topical Drug Delivery in the Oral Cavity: Advances on Devices and Manufacturing Technologies

Abstract

There are several routes of drug administration, and each one has advantages and limitations. In the case of the topical application in the oral cavity, comprising the buccal, sublingual, palatal, and gingival regions, the advantage is that it is painless, non-invasive, allows easy application of the formulation, and it is capable of avoiding the need of drug swallowing by the patient, a matter of relevance for children and the elderly. Another advantage is the high permeability of the oral mucosa, which may deliver very high amounts of medication rapidly to the bloodstream without significant damage to the stomach. This route also allows the local treatment of lesions that affect the oral cavity, as an alternative to systemic approaches involving injection-based methods and oral medications that require drug swallowing. Thus, this drug delivery route has been arousing great interest in the pharmaceutical industry. This review aims to condense information on the types of biomaterials and polymers used for this functionality, as well as on production methods and market perspectives of this topical drug delivery route.

Harnessing Natural Polymers for Nano-Scaffolds in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Overview of Bone Disease Treatment

“…Additionally, the discussion will encompass gels, mucoadhesive tablets, microneedles and films. The primary categories of biomaterials utilized for drug delivery in the oral cavity predominantly include fast dissolving films and gels, microneedles, films and mucoadhesive tablets [126]. An oral fast-dissolving film is a type of drug delivery system that is designed for ease of use and rapid absorption into the body.…”

Mucoadhesive Polymeric Polyologels Designed for the Treatment of Periodontal and Related Diseases of the Oral Cavity

“…A potential clinical application of organogels is as a platform for the treatment of local disorders of the oral cavity, notably inflammatory disorders, e.g., stomatitis, gingivitis, periodontitis, and lichen planus, and the treatment of infection [ 32 , 33 ]. A wide range of dosage form types has been reported for the treatment of local diseases of the oral cavity, including gels/hydrogels, semi-solid systems, films, fibres, nanoparticles, and microparticles [ 34 , 35 ]. Key to the success of these delivery systems is their retention at the site of application to enable a satisfactory rate of drug delivery for the required period to ensure therapeutic efficacy [ 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Technological Aspects and Evaluation Methods for Polymer Matrices as Dental Drug Carriers

“…When designing a drug formulation for use in dentistry, it is necessary to consider aspects of the application of the carrier in the oral cavity, which is a diverse area and includes the lips, cheeks, the dorsal and lower surface of the tongue, hard palate, soft palate, maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes (gums), and the floor of the mouth, covered by a mucous membrane that is constantly moistened and flushed with saliva [1]. When developing therapeutic formulations for topical application in the oral cavity, it is necessary to take into account the leaching of the drug carrier by saliva, the poor penetration of the drug into the tissue, the limited adhesion surface of the preparation, its taste, the possibility of accidental ingestion of the carrier, and the aforementioned specificity of the site of application, or the disease entity being treated, i.e., therapy for lesions involving more superficial layers of epithelium, e.g., therapy for pseudomembranous candidiasis, or therapy for lesions requiring deeper penetration of the substance, e.g., therapy for Wilson's lichen and other mucocutaneous diseases [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In addition, there is the need for direct administration of the drug into periodontal pockets when supplemented mechanical therapy pocket cleaning is indicated [2].…”