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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Apr 15.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Pharm. 2013 Feb 18;447(0):75–93. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2013.02.030

Table 1.

Commonly used absorption enhancers and their mechanisms of action.

Category Examples Mechanism of action
Bile salts Sodium Deoxycholate, Sodium Taurocholate, Sodium Glycodeoxycholate, Sodium Taurodihydrofusidate, Sodium Glycodihydrofudisate Form reverse micelles and disrupt membrane, open up tight junctions, enzyme inhibition and mucolytic activity.
Chelators EDTA, Citric acid, Salicylates Interferes with calcium ions, chelation disrupts intracellular junctions and decreases transepithelial electrical resistance.
Surfactants Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Laureth-9, Sodium Dodecylsulfate, Sodium Taurodihydrofusidate, Poly Oxyethylene Ethers Perturbation of intercellular lipids, lipid order, orientation and fluidity. Inhibition of efflux mechanisms.
Fatty acids and Derivatives Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Caprylic Acid, Capric Acid, Acyl Carnitines, Mono and Di-Glycerides Increase fluidity of phospholipid membranes, contraction of actin myofilaments, opening of tight junctions
Cationic Polymers Chitosan and its Derivatives Combined effect of mucoadhesion and opening of tight junctions via ionic interactions with the cell membrane.
Anionic Polymers Carbopol and Polyacrylic Acid Derivatives Combined effect of enzyme inhibition and opening of tight junctions through removal of extracellular calcium ions.
N-Acetyl Cysteine Reduce the viscosity of mucus layer by breaking down disulfide bonds.
Acylcarnitines Lauroyl-L-Carnitine Chloride, Palmitoylcarnitine Chloride Membrane disruption, Opening of tight junctions with a calcium independent mechanism