PCCA Mucolox™ – Still revolutionary

PCCA Mucolox™ Base provides long-lasting coverage and increased contact time to the mucous membrane.

Specifically, it contains a combination of polymers designed to provide superior mucoadhesive properties, so that any medications which are incorporated do not just wash out with water or secretions — they stay in place to provide optimal contact to the mucosal surface to give the best possible treatment outcomes.

PCCA Mucolox™ Base can be used orally, vaginally, rectally (including enemas) and for wounds.

he product is free of gluten, casein, dye and parabens and has a low glycaemic index which is suitable for diabetics or patients requiring a restricted sugar intake.

Delivery of medication via the oral mucosa has been continuously evolving since the mid-1980s due to the development of novel delivery systems which allow for increased efficacy upon delivery.

Since then, the oral mucosa has been an ideal target for drug delivery due to the ability of the medication to bypass first-pass metabolism, avoid gastrointestinal degradation, and achieve more rapid onset of action.

Within the oral mucosa lies the buccal mucosa, which is comprised of non-keratinised epithelial cells that line the inner cheeks.

Buccal delivery is advantageous in that the buccal mucosa is highly vascularised, has low levels of enzymatic activity and is fairly immobile, making it a suitable site for both local and systemic delivery of medication.

However, one of the greatest disadvantages of buccal delivery is the low residence time (time at site of action) of the medication, which can be due to various factors such as continuous section of saliva, triggering involuntary swallowing, intake of food and movement of the tongue.

All of these factors can influence the efficacy of medication designed to be delivered via the buccal mucosa.

Recognition of this drawback has led to the development of mucoadhesive polymers, a delivery system that adheres to the mucosal lining of the cheeks and prolongs contact time.

The optimal mucoadhesive properties exhibited by PCCA Mucolox™, which have been assessed against a commercial reference product, are ideal features sought after by many compounding pharmacists searching for bases to be used in the treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral mucosa.

These conditions include, but are not limited to, mucositis (ulceration and inflammation of the mucous members), candidiasis (fungal infection), recurrent ulcers, bacterial infections, trauma of the oral mucosa and dry mouth syndromes.

For example, at least 40% of patients who undergo chemotherapy and 80% of patients who undergo radiotherapy for the head and neck will suffer from the ulceration and inflammation of the mucous membranes caused by these treatments.

This will result in pain and discomfort, and may impact on the patient’s ability to eat. If not controlled, mucositis may ultimately impact on the completion of treatment.

For this reason, compounding pharmacists are concerned that the medication prepared will not add additional burden to the patient’s medication regime.

It is therefore beneficial to use a base with high mucoadhesive strength and long mucosal retention to prolong the contact between the medication and the site of action.

This reduces the need for frequent dosing because the effectiveness of each dose is optimised.

Any active ingredients which have been incorporated into the preparation are not washed away with the base by saliva and can remain at the affected site.

Access to innovative bases such as PCCA Mucolox™ allows compounding pharmacists to optimise treatment of conditions of the oral mucosa, overall improving compliance and positive outcomes for patients who are already in pain and discomfort from their underlying conditions.