title: Thiolated polymers as mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.
abstract: Mucoadhesion is the process of binding a material to the mucosal layer of the body. Utilising both natural and synthetic polymers, mucoadhesive drug delivery is a method of controlled drug release which allows for intimate contact between the polymer and a target tissue. It has the potential to increase bioavailability, decrease potential side effects and offer protection to more sensitive drugs such as proteins and peptide based drugs. The thiolation of polymers has, in the last number of years, come to the fore of mucoadhesive drug delivery, markedly improving mucoadhesion due to the introduction of free thiol groups onto the polymer backbone while also offering a more cohesive polymeric matrix for the slower and more controlled release of drug. This review explores the concept of mucoadhesion and the recent advances in both the polymers and the methods of thiolation used in the synthesis of mucoadhesive drug delivery devices.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland. Electronic address: sduggan@wit.ie.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duggan
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Orla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: O' Donovan
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical and Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre, Department of Chemical and Life Sciences, Waterford Institute of Technology, Waterford, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D000268:Adhesiveness; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds
keywords: Controlled drug delivery; Mucoadhesion; Natural and synthetic polymers; Thiolation