title: Innovations in bioadhesive vaginal drug delivery system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vagina, due to its anatomical position and physiological characteristics is increasingly being explored as a site for drug delivery in recent years. This route coupled with bioadhesion phenomena has born fruitful results in delivering drugs both locally as well as systemically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bioadhesive vaginal drug delivery system has been used for the treatment of local diseases affecting the vagina like candidiasis, STD, vaginal dryness, and so on. Also, research has demonstrated that drugs can be successfully delivered to systemic circulation via vaginal mucosa for treatment of various diseases like migraine and osteoporosis. Besides, this vaginal route has also been used for uterine targeting of drugs. This review focuses on these recent innovations that have been patented in the area of bioadhesive vaginal drug delivery systems. The review also highlights certain physicochemical characteristics of bioadhesive polymers that affect drug delivery through this route.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An in-depth study of this review will give an insight into the potential areas that can be explored while designing a bioadhesive vaginal drug delivery system. Also, the in vitro and in vivo experimental results discussed in the review will help stimulate research in development and optimization of newer formulations.
authors.affiliation: Baddi University of Emerging Sciences & Technology, Institute of Pharmacy & Emerging Sciences, Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Gurpreet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010330:Patents as Topic; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers