Recent trends in drug delivery systems: intranasal drug delivery.

Nasal route of drug delivery is commonly known for treatment of local ailments like-cold, cough, rhinitis etc. Recently, efforts have been made to deliver various drugs, specially peptides and proteins, through nasal route for systemic use; utilizing the principles and concepts of rate controlled drug delivery and various polymers and absorption promoters. Considering the large number of problems associated with oral, parenteral, rectal and other routes of drug administration and gradual increase in interest of pharmaceutical scientists towards exploring the possibilities of intranasal delivery of various drugs, this article aims at giving an insight into nasal cavity, consideration of factors affecting and strategies to improve drug absorption through nasal route, pharmaceutical dosage forms and delivery systems with examples of some peptides for intra nasal delivery, its advantages and limitations.