Drug Delivery

Drug delivery is the method or process of administering drugs or pharmaceuticals and other xenobiotics to achieve a therapeutic effect in humans or animals. Various drug delivery technologies are utilized to promote therapeutic effects at the intended site of action while minimizing possible adverse effects, by impacting absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of a drug compound.

Advances in medicine and biotechnology have led to the development of large number of new drug candidates, many of which fail during pre-clinical evaluation due to limited bioavailability, poor stability and low solubility. Drug delivery systems (DDS) are widely researched and developed to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of therapeutic agents, to enable them to be delivered at the targeted site in the desired dose at the appropriate time and rate. Novel DDS, such as nano- and micro-particles, transdermal patches, inhalers, drug reservoir implants, and antibody-drug conjugates, are developed to meet advanced therapeutic needs including controlled release, targeted delivery, solubility enhancement, on-demand activation, and new administration routes (e.g., transdermal, ocular, nasal). The appropriate selection of DDS depends on the drug properties, desired release rate, desired site of action, and administration route.

Advances in nanotechnology have greatly improved drug design, enabling targeted, safe and effective drug formulations with nanoparticles (NP). Nanodrug delivery systems have demonstrated great potential in improving the solubility of hydrophobic drugs, enhancing biodistribution and pharmacokinetics, and providing preferential accumulation at the target site.