Self-Propelling Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery Systems (Mucojets): Advances, Applications, and Future Perspectives

Mucosal drug delivery represents a promising route for systemic and local therapy but is often limited by the protective mucus barrier. Mucojets, a class of self-propelling mucoadhesive drug delivery systems, have emerged as a novel strategy to overcome these challenges. By combining propulsion mechanisms with mucoadhesion, mucojets can penetrate the mucus layer and efficiently deliver therapeutic agents. Recent advances in formulation design, propulsion strategies, and polymer technologies have expanded their applicability to oral, nasal, pulmonary, buccal, and gastrointestinal drug delivery. Potential applications include the delivery of peptides, proteins, vaccines, and gene-based therapeutics. Future research is expected to focus on clinical translation, scale-up, regulatory acceptance, and integration with smart drug delivery platforms, making mucojets a versatile tool in modern pharmaceutics.