Recent trends in oral transmucosal drug delivery systems: an emphasis on the soft palatal route

INTRODUCTION: The oral mucosa is an appropriate route for drug delivery systems, as it evades first-pass metabolism, enhances drug bioavailability and provides the means for rapid drug transport to the systematic circulation. This delivery system offers a more comfortable and convenient delivery route compared with the intravenous route. Although numerous drugs have been evaluated for oral mucosal delivery, few of them are available commercially. This is due to limitations such as the high costs associated with developing such drug delivery systems. AREAS COVERED: The present review covers recent developments and applications of oral transmucosal drug delivery systems. More specifically, the review focuses on the suitability of the oral soft palatal site as a new route for drug delivery systems. EXPERT OPINION: The novelistic oral soft palatal platform is a promising mucoadhesive site for delivering active pharmaceuticals, both systemically and locally, and it can also serve as a smart route for the targeting of drugs to the brain.