Mucoadhesion matters.

And so does your choice of mucoadhesive polymer.

Choose Carbopol® polymers and Noveon® polycarbophil.

Mucoadhesion is a type of bioadhesion in which two materials, at least one of which is mucosal, are held together for extended periods by interfacial forces.

To successfully achieve mucoadhesion in pharmaceutical products, the choice of excipient in your formulation is key.

Lubrizol’s Carbopol® polymers and Noveon® polycarbophil are high quality excipients offering superior mucoadhesive performance compared to other polymers. When compared in vitro, study data demonstrates that Carbopol polymers and Noveon polycarbophil provide longer retention times on mucosa than other polymers see Figure 1 for an example and download our tech brief to see more.

Fig. 1. Retention of aqueous dispersion made from various materials

Benefits of Mucoadhesive Formulations

Lubrizol’s Carbopol polymers and Noveon polycarbophil:

• Can provide longer, enhanced retention of active ingredients at the target site 
• Lubricate mucosal tissue in a variety of dosage forms (e.g. mouthwash to treat for dry mouth, lozenge for a sore throat)
• Allow for formulation flexibility due to multiple available polymer grades 
• Provide muco-protective capabilities to a formulation (e.g. a canker sore cover)
• Offer a new opportunity for product claim differentiation 

Applicable Dosage Forms

• Topical gels and creams (oral, vaginal, rectal, etc.)
• Patches and films
• Oral solutions and suspensions
• Eye drops
• Nasal sprays
• Lozenges and buccal tablets
• Toothpastes and mouthwashes