Use of fatty acid esters as bioadhesive substances

Abstract

Use of fatty acid esters as bioadhesive substances. The fatty acid esters have molecular weights below about 1000 dalton and the fatty acid component of the fatty acid ester is a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having a total number of carbon atoms of from C.sub.8 to C.sub.22. Particularly suitable fatty acid esters for use according to the invention are fatty acid esters which are selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters of polyhydric alcohols, fatty acid esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids, fatty acid esters of monosaccharides, fatty acid esters of glycerylphosphate derivatives, fatty acid esters of glycerylsulfate derivative, and mixtures thereof. Excellent bioadhesive properties have been observed for fatty acid esters are glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl monolinoleate or glyceryl monolinolenate. Methods are described for administering an active or protective substance to undamaged or damaged skin or mucosa of an animal such as a human by combining the active or protective substance with a bioadhesive fatty acid ester. The mucosa may be the oral, aural, nasal, lung, gastrointestinal, vaginal, or rectal mucosa. The administration may also be to body cavities such as the oral cavity, e.g. via buccal administration.

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