Within the current study, a delivery system based on a novel polymer-lectin conjugate (carbopol-lectin) was evaluated for the oral delivery of therapeutic peptides and proteins. It was demonstrated that covalent attachment of lectin to carbopol does neither decrease nor abolish the specific binding properties of lectin. Bioadhesion studies revealed that liposomes coated with carbopol lectin are more bioadhesive than liposomes coated with unmodified carbopol. Finally, the in vivo data suggest that carbopol-lectin conjugate coated liposomes are effective oral peptide delivery systems which are capable of increasing the pharmacological effect of orally administered calcitonin.