A cartoon diagram illustrating local drug delivery to the oral mucosa, showing tubes of medication entering a person's open mouth. Text highlights 'Innovation of Topical Formulations for Oral Mucosal Diseases' and 'Local Drug Delivery', with some incorrect labels inside the mouth.

make into helpful cartoon for ig post. do not make into infographic. just simple digestable cartoon: There are topical formulations that have been designed specifically to treat oral mucosal diseases. Local drug delivery may provide a more targeted and efficient option than systemic delivery (such as pills) for diseases of the oral mucosa. Oral mucosal delivery has the potential to treat many different conditions and diseases, such as oral cancer, mucositis, lichen planus, herpes simplex, candidiasis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, vesiculo-bullous diseases, neuropathic pain and salivary dysfunction. (Sheikh et al, 2013) Why to deliver a medication through the oral mucosa? To avoid the stomach and first-pass elimination To avoid the influence of the presence of food Direct access to a lesion or condition Quick absorption Intraoral Permeability The oral mucosa is not a uniformly, highly permeable tissue like the gut, but shows regional variation. The keratinized areas (thicker), such as gingiva and hard palate, are least permeable and nonkeratinized lining areas (such as the tissue under the tongue) are most permeable. (Squier 1991) Holding medication in place! One of the major limitations associated with buccal delivery is low permeation of therapeutic agents across the mucosa. Various substances have been explored as permeation enhancers to increase the flux/absorption of drugs through the mucosa, but irritation, membrane damage, and toxicity are always associated with them See more