Pharmaceutical Formulations & Drug Delivery

Transmucosal drug delivery brings many advantages including delivery of macromolecules, recombinant anÆŸ gens, allergens and nanoparÆŸ cle-based therapeuÆŸ cs. The oral mucosa, especially its sublingual region, is densely populated with specialized dendriÆŸ c cells, and therefore has been recognized as a suitable immunoinducÆŸ ve area giving the opportunity for safe and effi cient mucosal vaccinaÆŸ on and immunomodulaÆŸ on. Easy access for self-administraÆŸ on, high permeability, a lack of enzymaÆŸ c barriers, mild pH values, avoiding fi rst-pass metabolism, all make the non-keraÆŸ nized oral regions aÆ© racÆŸ ve sites for the applicaÆŸ on of drugs and vaccines. The innovaÆŸ ve dosage form for delivery of recombinant anÆŸ gens and therapeuÆŸ c nanoparÆŸ cles through mucosal ÆŸ ssues consists of a protecÆŸ ve backing layer, a mucoadhesive layer, and an electrospun nanofi brous layer. The mucoadhesive fi lm layer was prepared by solvent-casÆŸ ng method, and it is responsible for ÆŸ ght adhesion of the whole system to the oral mucosa.nThe electrospun nanofi brous reservoir layer prepared using the electrospinning process is intended to act as a reservoir for recombinant anÆŸ gen, allergens and nanoparÆŸ cles. As an example, the effi ciency of transmucosal delivery of model polymeric PLGA-PEG nanoparÆŸ cles was tested using home-made Franz diff usion cells on freshly excised porcine sublingual mucosa. Intramucosal delivery was observed on cross-secÆŸ oned porcine sublingual mucosa using confocal microscopy. Overcoming the mucosal barriers is the main prerequisite for successful delivery of nanoparÆŸ cle-based drugs and immunotherapeuÆŸ cs into submucosal ÆŸ ssues. In this work, we demonstrated the capability of nanofi bre-based mucoadhesive films to eff ecÆŸ vely deliver nanoparÆŸ cles into the submucosal ÆŸ ssue. It provides a novel approach in the  development of non-invasive sublingual vaccines and immunotherapeuÆŸ cs.