Formulation of Rivastigmine-Loaded Nanolipid Mucoadhesive Gel Using <em>Moringa oleifera</em> Mucilage for Enhanced Mucosal Delivery in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder for which current rivastigmine therapies offer limited benefit due to low oral bioavailability, first-pass metabolism, and gastrointestinal side effects. Alternative mucosal routes such as nasal and buccal delivery provide non-invasive, patient-friendly approaches capable of bypassing gastrointestinal degradation while enabling rapid absorption and potentially improving central nervous system exposure. The present study aims to develop a rivastigmine-loaded nanolipid mucoadhesive gel designed for dual mucosal application nasal as well as buccal to prolong residence time, enhance permeability, and sustain drug release. Solid lipid nano carrier composed of a combination of solid and liquid lipids, were selected to achieve improved stability, drug encapsulation, and controlled release compared to conventional solid lipid nanoparticles. To strengthen mucoadhesion and biocompatibility, Moringa oleifera mucilage was incorporated as a natural polymer with excellent swelling and hydrogen-bonding capacity. This novel formulation strategy represents the first reported use of Moringa oleifera mucilage–based gels for rivastigmine mucosal delivery, offering a promising platform for improved bioavailability, better patient compliance, and sustained therapeutic management of Alzheimer’s disease.