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Abstract

The invention relates to novel methods for making oil-in-water emulsions having mucoadhesive properties which are primarily intended for administration of biologically active compounds to mucosal surfaces. The emulsion has an aqueous continuous phase and a plurality of submicron particles having an average particle diameter of from 10 nm to 600 nm, with the particles having a hydrophobic phase of a fat or oil which forms a hydrophobic core that is surrounded by a surfactant layer. The emulsion further includes a mucoadhesive polymer which is a polymer or copolymer of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, a poly (methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride) copolymer, pectin, alginic acid, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, gum tragacanth, karaya gum or carboxymethylcellulose surrounding the hydrophobic one. A biologically active compound may also be included, if desired. The hydrophobic core has less than 1% (w/w) protein, relative to the weight of the hydrophobic core, and the emulsion contains less than 5% (w/w) surfactant, relative to the weight of the hydrophobic phase.

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First Claim