Emerging trends in insulin delivery: Buccal route

Abstract

Diabetes is attaining epidemic proportions across the world. The most prevalent treatment strategy for diabetes focuses on the control of postprandial blood glucose which is found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, insulin delivery routes have undergone a radical change. The subcutaneous route may not necessarily succeed in providing satisfactory postprandial hyperglycemic management. The ultimate goal of exogenous insulin regimen in diabetics is to closely and correctly imitate the physiological profile observed in non-diabetics. Over the last decade, many routes including pulmonary, nasal, rectal, transdermal, buccal and ocular have been studied for insulin delivery to achieve the therapeutic insulin levels using non-invasive drug delivery systems. Recently the buccal route has been evaluated for safe, simple, fast and flexible insulin delivery. The objective of this review is to provide an update on various promising approaches that have been explored for buccal delivery of insulin. The buccal insulin spray has provided an alternative form of insulin to the patient as well as to the physician.