Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

In a recent publication in the Molecules Journal by a research group from Singapore, the concept of drug delivery is explored as a technique that enables targeted administration of medication to enhance drug concentration in specific regions of the body. The primary objective of any delivery system is to achieve controlled, localized, and targeted drug release within the affected tissues while ensuring safety. This comprehensive review aims to provide a fundamental understanding of various drug delivery systems, with a particular focus on the pharmacokinetics of the drug. Depending on factors such as the target site, treatment duration, and physicochemical properties of the drug, dosage forms can be administered through different routes. Commonly used dosage forms include tablets, capsules, pills, ointments, syrups, and injections. However, certain drugs may undergo degradation by stomach acids after oral administration, leading to reduced bioavailability. In contrast, intravenous administration ensures 100% bioavailability of drugs. Controlled release drug delivery systems are classified based on the mechanism of drug release from the dosage form, such as dissolution-, diffusion-, water penetration-controlled, chemically controlled, and nanoparticle-based systems. Among these, nanocarriers, which are sub-micron sized particles with a large specific surface area, have emerged as a promising technology. They enable higher drug loading or dosing per unit volume, thereby enhancing the bioavailability of drugs precisely where and when they are required. For further details, please refer to the provided link.