Recent Advancements in Using Polymers for Intestinal Mucoadhesion and Mucopenetration

Oral administration of actives is the most desired form of delivery, but the formulations need to overcome a variety of barriers including the intestinal mucus. This feature article summarizes the developments from the past 2–3 years in this context focusing on polymer‐based formulations. The progress in assembling mucopenetrating nanoparticles is outlined considering coatings using noninteracting polymers as well as virus‐like particles and charge‐shifting particles. Next, polymers and their modification to enhance mucoadhesion are discussed, followed by providing examples of double‐encapsulation systems that aim to combine mucopenetration with mucoadhesion in the same formulation. Finally, a short outlook is provided highlighting a few of the most pressing challenges to address.