CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES AND ULTRAFLEXIBLE LIPOSOMES AS INTRANASAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS OF VERAPAMIL HYDROCHLORIDE

Abstract

The nasal mucosa is characterized by a high vascularity. Hence, drug delivery from this site offers the possibility of preventing hepatogastrointestinal first-pass elimination and therefore, it would appear to be an ideal alternative to the parenteral route for the administration of many drugs. The intranasal (IN) route offers advantages such as: ease and convenience of administration; good systemic absorption due to the high vascularity and permeability of the nasal mucosa; avoidance of drug destruction due to metabolism in the gastrointestinal wall; and the possibility of attaining rates and extents of absorption and plasma concentration versus time profiles that approximate those obtained by the IV route. Nasal particulate systems using mucoadhesive polymers as carriers include micro and nanoparticles. Particulate drug carrier systems administered through the nasal mucosa may protect the drug from enzymatic degradation, increase the drug dissolution rate, intensify the contact of the formulation with the mucosa, enhance the uptake by the epithelium, and act as a controlled release system resulting in prolonged blood concentrations.