The presently claimed and disclosed inventive concept(s) contemplates a novel polymeric oral dosage form (transmucosal delivery vehicle) for delivery of pharmaceutical and nutriceutical bioactive agents to the mucosa and bloodstream of the intestine. The oral dosage form of the presently claimed and disclosed inventive concept(s) comprises a polymeric coating which encapsulates the bioactive agent and inhibits degradation and dissolution of the bioactive agent within the stomach and within the lumen of the intestine until after passing through the mucosal wall of the small and/or large intestine. The enzymatic degradation of the polymeric delivery vehicle containing the bioactive agent is substantially inhibited until after absorption of the polymeric delivery vehicle into blood vessels of the intestinal mucosa. It is a particular object of the presently claimed and disclosed inventive concept(s) to provide a new and improved method for enterically or intestinally encapsulating pharmaceutical and nutriceutical bioactive agent or agents for oral administration of the encapsulated bioactive agent or agents.
