Patent ID: 8147866

Claim:
A method for providing enhanced uptake of buprenorphine to a subject by direct transmucosal delivery of buprenorphine, the method comprising: administering buprenorphine to a subject by application of a mucoadhesive bioerodable drug delivery device to an oral mucosal surface of the subject, the device comprising: a bioerodable mucoadhesive layer comprising an effective amount of buprenorphine disposed in a polymeric diffusion environment, wherein the polymeric diffusion environment is a buffered environment having a pH of between about 4 and about 6; and a barrier layer comprising a polymeric barrier environment disposed adjacent to the mucoadhesive layer to provide a unidirectional gradient upon application to a mucosal surface for the rapid and efficient delivery of buprenorphine, wherein the unidirectional gradient delivers buprenorphine across the buffered polymeric diffusion environment upon application to the mucosal surface.