Why Oral Strips Work So Quickly: The Future of Sublingual and Buccal Nanoparticles
When we think about taking medicine, most of us picture swallowing a pill and waiting for it to work. But the truth is, a lot happens before that pill actually starts helping you. It has to survive stomach acid, travel through the intestines, and get processed by the liver before it finally reaches your bloodstream. What if we could skip most of that journey?
That’s exactly what researchers are exploring through nanoparticle-based sublingual and buccal drug delivery systems — a new way to deliver medicine through the mouth, either under the tongue (sublingual) or against the cheek (buccal). According to a 2019 scientific review by Susan Hua, this approach could change how quickly and effectively medications work.
One of the biggest advantages of this method is speed. The tissues under your tongue and inside your cheek are full of tiny blood vessels. When a drug is placed there, it can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream — much faster than waiting for digestion. Another big plus is protection. Some drugs are destroyed by stomach acid or broken down by the liver before they ever have a chance to do their job. Delivering them through the mouth helps avoid that problem. It’s also great for people who struggle to swallow pills or for situations where you need a fast-acting treatment, like sudden pain or nausea.
So where do nanoparticles come in? Think of them as miniature delivery trucks, each one carrying a microscopic load of medicine. These tiny particles can be designed to stick to the inside of the mouth, slowly release the drug over time, and even help it pass through the mucosal barrier more efficiently. They can protect fragile drugs, make them last longer, and give scientists precise control over how the medicine is absorbed.
Of course, it’s not as simple as just sprinkling nanoparticles under the tongue. The mouth is a constantly moving, wet environment, and saliva can quickly wash away a dose before it’s absorbed. The thickness of the mucosal tissue and the enzymes present there also make drug delivery more complicated. Researchers have to balance particle size, surface charge, and composition to find what works best. Plus, what works for one person might not work as well for another — saliva levels, diet, and even age can affect absorption.
Despite the challenges, this area of research is moving fast. There are already products and experimental treatments that use sublingual or buccal routes — from thin dissolvable films and small tablets to sprays and gels. Some are aimed at local conditions inside the mouth, while others deliver medicine systemically, meaning they work throughout the entire body. Nanoparticles are now being added to these systems to make them even more effective and consistent.
The implications are exciting. Imagine painkillers that work almost instantly, anxiety medication that kicks in within minutes, or new ways to deliver insulin or hormones without injections. Patients who have difficulty swallowing pills — children, older adults, or people with certain medical conditions — could benefit the most. And since these systems are more efficient, smaller doses might be needed, reducing potential side effects.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about new drugs — it’s about smarter delivery. Susan Hua’s review highlights that drug delivery technology can be just as important as the medicine itself. The combination of sublingual and buccal routes with nanotechnology offers a glimpse into a future where treatments are faster, safer, and more convenient.
We’re still a few steps away from seeing all this in everyday medicine, but the science is moving in the right direction. Nanoparticle systems are helping to bridge the gap between what we know about biology and how we can use that knowledge to improve health care. For now, it’s safe to say that the next big breakthrough in medicine might not be a brand-new drug — but a better way to take the ones we already have.
Sources
Hua, S. (2019). Advances in Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery Approaches for Sublingual and Buccal Administration. Pharmaceutics, 11(11), 598. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
Additional background information referenced from PubMed and NCBI.