Natural excipients have become immensely popular in recent time for the development of variety of novel drug delivery systems. Researchers are showing keen interest in natural excipients like gums and mucilages for the betterment of conventional drug delivery systems as well as formulation and development of novel drug delivery systems. The reason for their popularity over synthetic polymers includes advantages like non toxicity, biodegradable nature, economical, chemically inert in nature and easy of availability. The ability to modify biopolymers and excipients to achieve desirable qualities make them even more attractive materials in development of novel drug delivery systems. Many such polymers have been tried and tested in development of buccal mucoadhesive drug delivery systems. The unique route of drug administration directly into systemic circulation is a very good alternative for oral conventional drug delivery systems. Various biopolymers possess mucoadhesive properties and matrix forming capabilities which is most basic requirement for the formulation development of any buccal mucosal drug delivery systems. Biopolymers are capable to act as a rate retarding polymers and thus help to achieve sustained release of drugs over the period of time. In this review an attempt has been made to discuss some of the most important natural excipients investigated in development of buccal mucoadhesive drug delivery systems.
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