The Know-how of Polymeric Nanocarrier Based Vaginal Drug Delivery System: Pitfalls, Challenges and Trends.

OBJECTIVES: Gynecological health is a global concern, and thus, the formulator researcher strives to improve the quality of life through innovative feminine pharmaceutical formulations. Vaginal delivery appears to be one of the vital strategies for local and systemic action of the therapeutically active agent. The rich vascular network, mucosal permeability, bypass of hepatic first-pass effect, and low enzymatic activity are the exclusive advantages of the vaginal route. But certain hindrances truncate the vaginal route, such as physiological factors including lower pH, self-cleansing mucus with constant secretion, and varying thickness of mucus layer due to menstrual cycle and microbiota. Significance of Review: This present review envisages the advances in the polymeric nanocarriers in the delivery to the vaginal route. Polymeric (mucoadhesive and PEGylated, etc.) nanocarriers have been recently utilized for drug delivery purposes. The modernized analysis of the updated advancements in the polymeric nanocarrier-based vaginal drug delivery system with the budding development is compiled in the present review.

RESULTS: The literature search reveals that the novel polymeric nanocarrier design strategies currently being proposed to perk up the delivery of customary drugs through the vaginal route prove effective.

CONCLUSION: Polymeric nanocarrier for vaginal delivery has provided better therapeutic efficacy due to higher drug residence, improved permeation, and sustained release of the active therapeutic agent. The polymeric nanocarriers can deliver various proteins, peptides, nuclear materials, hormones, etc., vaginally that are difficult for administration.