The presently claimed and disclosed inventive concept(s) contemplates a novelpolymeric oral dosage form(trans-mucosal delivery vehicle) for delivery of pharmaceutical andnutriceutical bioactive agents to the mucosa and bloodstream of theintestine. The oral dosage form of the presently claimed and disclosedinventive concept(s) comprises a polymeric coating whichencapsulates the bioactive agent and inhibits degradation and dissolution ofthe bioactive agent within the stomach and within thelumen of the intestine until after passing through the mucosal wall of thesmall and/or large intestine. The enzymatic degradationof the polymeric delivery vehicle containing the bioactive agent issubstantially inhibited until after absorption of the polymericdelivery vehicle into blood vessels of the intestinal mucosa. It is aparticular object of the presently claimed and disclosedinven-tive concept(s) to provide a new and improved method for enterically orintestinally encapsulating pharmaceutical andnutriceuti-cal bioactive agent or agents for oral administration of theencapsulated bioactive agent or agents.
