ABSTRACT
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One of the major issues for drug delivery scientists is the delivery of the new products
generated by the genomics and proteomic revolutions [1-4]. The pharmaceutical sciences
now have to consider new strategies to effectively deliver these new ‘‘biopharmaceutical’’
products (typically large, hydrophilic and unstable proteins, oligonucleotides, and polysac-
charides), as well as conventional small drug molecules; the oral mucosa provides one
potential route for achieving this. Oral mucosae are more permeable than skin [5], although
less permeable (but more accessible) than most other mucosal routes [6]. Buccal formulations
have been developed to allow prolonged localized therapy and enhanced systemic delivery
whereas the sublingual route (considered to be the more permeable [5]) is usually used when a
rapid onset of action is required. The oral mucosa, however, while avoiding first pass effects
and the high levels of enzymes present in the middle gastrointestinal tract, is a formidable
barrier to drug absorption, especially for larger molecules. For this reason, chemical= permeation enhancers that can be included in a formulation to allow improved drug absorp-
tion have been developed.
