Compositions for providing agents that degrade in water

An emulsion composition, comprising:

• a) an agent for delivery, wherein the agent is a protein or composition susceptible to degradation in the presence of water selected from a sulfur containing polypeptide or peptide or a probiotic;
• b) a delivery vehicle associated with the agent, wherein the delivery vehicle is selected from among a micelle, inverse micelle, liposome, cubosome and a mixture thereof;
• and
• c) a mucoadhesive protein associated with the delivery vehicle and/or agent, wherein:
• the mucoadhesive protein is present at a concentration of about 1% by weight up to about 50% of the total weight of the composition;
• the mucoadhesive protein is selected from among the family of transferrins and the family of mucin proteins, whereby the composition can adsorb to the mucosa for effecting systemic delivery of the agent;
• the mucoadhesive protein is associated with the delivery vehicle and/or the agent via a chemical or physical bond;
• the composition is formulated as an emulsion and is formulated for mucosal delivery to the oral or gastrointestinal tract mucosa;
• and
• the emulsion comprises an oil phase, and a polar phase comprising a polar protic solvent other than water, whereby the emulsion does not contain water.