Methods to Study Mucoadhesive Dosage Forms

The ability to evaluate mucoadhesion properties depends to a great extent on the model surface used in a specific research. The state of the mucus model surface and its content are crucial parameters affecting the results of the bioadhesion assay. This chapter describes a variety of experimental methods that have been proposed over the years for the evaluation of adhesion ability. These include in vitro measurement of the force required to detach a mucoadhesive dosage form from a mucosal surface under tensile, shear or peel forces; assessment of rheological properties; molecular interactions; and in vivo studies. The enormous variability of results demonstrates the complex nature of the mucoadhesion process, which is affected by numerous parameters, ranging from the physicochemical properties of the polymers to the biological characteristics of the mucus covering different organs.