NASAL DRUG DELIVERY: SUCCESS THROUGH INTEGRATED DEVICE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Transmucosal nasal delivery is a promising drug delivery option where common drug administrations (e.g., intravenous, intramuscular, or oral) are inapplicable. Recently, it has been shown that many drugs have better bioavailability by nasal route than by oral route. This has been attributed to rich vasculature and a highly permeable structure of the nasal mucosa coupled with avoidance of hepatic first-pass elimination, gut wall metabolism and/or destruction in the gastrointestinal tract. The physiology of the nose presents obstacles, but offers a promising route for non-invasive systemic delivery of numerous therapies and debatably drug delivery route to the brain.  Intranasal microemulsions, gels and microspheres have gained increased interest in recent years as a delivery system for protein and peptides through nasal route. Since building a more efficient nasal drug delivery device requires not only better device design but  a far more versatile technology platform; one that delivers optimal nasal deposition, with formulation flexibility to work successfully with the many variables of the formulation itself. Thus present review focuses on innovations in nasal drug delivery devices.