Since the concept of mucoadhesion was pioneered in the early 1980s, various attempts have been made to improve the adhesive properties of polymers. These attempts include approaches such as mucoadhesion by a sustained hydration process, and the development of polymer-lectin conjugates and of polymer-bacterial adhesion conjugates. Andreas Bernkop-Schnürch at ThioMatrix GmbH looks into mucoadhesive polymers, and how they have in many cases not proven to be effective as ‘pharmaceutical glue’ in order to keep drug delivery systems for a prolonged time period on the target mucosal membranes.

https://international-pharma.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/3-Preactivated-Thiomers.pdf