Oral mucosa mucoadhesion

Oral mucosa mucoadhesion refers to the complex physical and chemical interaction between a synthetic or natural polymer and the mucus layer or epithelial surface of the oral cavity. This process is primarily utilized as a drug delivery strategy to increase the residence time of medications at a specific site, such as the buccal or sublingual regions, thereby enhancing local or systemic bioavailability (Sudhakar et al., 2006 [PMID: 16632001]). The mechanism involves several stages, including wetting, swelling, and the subsequent interpenetration of polymer chains into the mucin network, stabilized by non-covalent bonds like hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces (Smart, 2005 [DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2005.07.001]). While not a therapeutic target in the traditional sense (like a receptor or enzyme), it is a critical physiological interface for treating conditions such as oral ulcers, inflammation, and xerostomia. Effective mucoadhesion allows for sustained drug release and protects the underlying tissue from further irritation. However, the constant flow of saliva and mechanical movements of the mouth present significant challenges to maintaining stable adhesion (Mansuri et al., 2016 [PMID: 27014614]).

Other names

Buccal mucoadhesionMucoadhesive drug deliveryMucin-polymer interactionOral mucosal adhesion

The mechanism involves the physical and chemical interaction between mucoadhesive polymers and the oral mucus layer. This occurs through a sequence of wetting and swelling of the polymer, followed by the interpenetration of polymer chains into the mucin glycoprotein network (Mansuri et al., 2016 [PMID: 27014614]). The adhesion is stabilized by secondary chemical bonds, including hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions between negatively charged mucin and positively charged polymers like chitosan (Smart, 2005 [DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2005.07.001]).