Clinical insights: an update on transmucosal absorption with a focus on dodecyl maltoside

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Nasal administration provides a favorable option for patients with a variety of disease conditions and their caregivers, including for acute treatment therapies in the community setting. This noninvasive route of administration allows for device portability and quick access, absorption, and bioavailability. Drug products should be developed with a detailed understanding of ideal formulation characteristics and device criteria to ensure high bioavailability, effectiveness, and tolerability. AREAS COVERED: This narrative review examines how intranasal administration addresses limitations associated with some other routes of administration and how its own unique limitations can be addressed. There are numerous strategies to increase mucosal absorption, such as mucoadhesion and permeation enhancement. We searched PubMed about the role of the excipient dodecyl maltoside (DDM) in transmucosal absorption; those results were used for subsequent research. This narrative review discusses DDM use in formulations approved by several health authorities worldwide, including the US Food and Drug Administration, and in investigational drugs in development. EXPERT OPINION: DDM has demonstrated benefits in enhancing absorption in nasal spray formulations across a broad spectrum of medical conditions. These new treatment options offer effectiveness and ease of use for patients and caregivers. DDM and closely related excipients have many promising opportunities for future applications, facilitating absorption across nasal and other epithelia membranes.