Buccal administration of drugs leads to systemic circulation through internal jugular vein, bypassing them from hepatic first pass metabolism and leading to greater bioavailability. Buccal mucosa is most preferred site for both local as well as systemic action. For administration of drug through mucosal route, various types of dosage forms can be prepared. Buccal films can release topical drugs with controlled and sustained effects. Buccal films have the advantage of improved patient compliance because of reduced size with a suitable thickness as compare to other delivery systems. Buccal film can enhance absorption of active medicament as compared to others. Synthetic natural and semi synthetic polymers in low concentration can be used for the preparation of buccal films. Such types of dosage forms are cost effective, non-irritating, easy to handle, elegant, rapidly absorbable and most preferred by consumer. The review describes the anatomy of oral mucosa, mechanism of buccal absorption, methods to increase drug delivery via a buccal route, formulation aspects and evaluation parameters of buccal films.

Taste masking is of critical importance for active ingredients with an undesirable taste, due to the need for increased patient compliance, especially in pediatric and geriatric population. Various techniques for taste masking involve addition of flavours, sweeteners and amino acids, use of effervescent agents, prodrug formation, salt preparation, adsorption, formation of complex with ion- exchange resins, inclusion complexes and molecular complexes, microencapsulation, granulation, viscosity modifiers, multiple emulsion, liposomes and solid dispersion systems. In pharmaceutical industry, taste masking involves the development of a system that prevents the active substance from interacting with taste buds, thereby reducing the negative sensory response. This article reviews the different technologies which are used for masking the bitter taste and methods for evaluation of taste masking efficacy.