Review on nasal drug delivery system

Abstract

The intranasal route has become one of the most explored areas in the field of pharmaceutical research for the delivery of small polar molecules, vaccines, hormones, peptides and proteins.  This route has been targeted for the systemic delivery of drugs due to its high membrane permeability, high vasculature, low enzymatic environment and avoidance of hepatic first pass metabolism. The large surface area of the nasal mucosa facilitates rapid onset of therapeutic effect, potential for direct delivery of drug to the central nervous system (CNS), and non-invasiveness. Intranasal route is essentially painless and is easily administered by the patient or physicians all of which may maximize patient convenience, comfort and compliance. This article aims to give an insight into the nasal cavity, its advantages and limitations, consideration of factors affecting nasal absorption, strategies to improve drug absorption, pharmaceutical dosage forms and delivery systems and some of its applications.