Cell-based in vitro models for nasal permeability studies

Nasal drug delivery has been highly investigated by the scientific community as a noninvasive alternative route for the administration of drugs for both topical and systemic action. Authorization of nasal drug marketing requires testing of the best formulation, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of drugs along with mechanistic aspects of nasal absorption. Nasal permeability may be assessed as recurring to defined and controlled in vitro studies. Thus, primary cell cultures of human nasal epithelium and human nasal cell lines may be used as in vitro models to study drug permeation. This chapter describes cell culture techniques for nasal drug permeability, including cell seeding and maintaining techniques along with permeability assays per se.