Novel Pharmacotherapeutic Bioadhesive Patch for Oral Ulcerations

Project Summary Oral ulceration is one of the most commonly encountered oral diseases, with an estimated prevalence of 4% in the USA. Managing large or multiple ulcers that are caused by diseases of unknown etiology, such as erosive lichen planus or aphthous ulcers which affect 25% of the population worldwide, is also a challenge to dentists and specialists. Ulceration of the oral mucosa can cause soreness that affects an individual's eating, drinking, and speaking; and ulcers of long-duration can even cause malnutrition that severely affects quality of life. Clinically, topical treatment with corticosteroids remains the first-line clinical therapy for oral ulcerations, and corticosteroids are delivered through a gel, oral base (paste) or rinse which provide temporary symptomatic relief. However, the effectiveness of current therapies is often greatly reduced by the fact that the medication can be diluted or eliminated within minutes by the patient's saliva, or through rubbing against the tongue or other pa