A Review on Basic Principles of Mucoadhesion: The Importance of Chitosan as a Mucoadhesive Biopolymer

Mucoadhesive polymers have the special functions which lead to adhesion to the mucin/ epithelial surface on the mucus-covered areas in the body such as eye, nose, vaginal and buccal cavities, and GI tract. Therefore, they provide to increase the residence time of the dosage form on the mucosa and to significantly improve the drug administration. Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems containing chitosan and its modified derivatives have many advantages for both local and systemic drug delivery. The goal of this review is to put forward the importance of chitosan as a functionalized mucoadhesive drug delivery system.