NASAL DRUG DELIVERY- AN OVERVIEW

Over the past few decades the nasal route has gained widespread interest as a promising and an alternative route to oral and parenteral drug delivery. The nasal mucosa being highly vascularized and permeable provides a rapid onset of therapeutic action. It is a convenient, compliant and needleless mode of drug delivery suitable for the treatment of both acute and chronic diseases. In addition, nasal drug delivery circumvents the issues of poor and slow absorption, first pass hepatic metabolism, blood brain barrier. Intranasal administration can be used to deliver small polar molecules, hormones, vaccines, proteins and peptides. Despite the several potential advantages the nasal route has certain limitations. The present review outlines the various merits and demerits of intranasal administration, the relevant anatomy and physiology of the nasal cavity. The present article gives a detailed description of the factors affecting drug absorption and the different strategies that can be used to improve the drug absorption.