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Colonic drug delivery: an updated review
M Ajmal Shareef1, Roop K Khar, Alka Ahuja
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110062, India. ajmal_shareef@yahoo.co.in
AAPS Pharmsci
|July 18, 2003
Summary
Targeting drugs to the colon offers therapeutic benefits by protecting them from stomach acid and enzymes. This approach enhances treatment for colonic diseases and conditions like arthritis.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Gastroenterology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- The colon offers a unique environment for drug absorption, protected from stomach acidity and pancreatic enzymes.
- Targeted colonic drug delivery presents advantages for treating systemic conditions (e.g., nocturnal asthma, arthritis) and local colonic diseases (e.g., ulcerative colitis, colorectal cancer).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide insights into the design considerations for effective colon-specific drug delivery systems.
- To discuss the evaluation methods for these specialized drug delivery systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of the anatomy and physiology of the lower gastrointestinal tract.
- Analysis of biopharmaceutical factors influencing drug absorption in the colon.
- Discussion of various strategies for achieving colon-specific drug delivery.
Main Results:
- Colon-specific drug delivery systems can overcome challenges posed by the upper gastrointestinal tract.
- Direct drug delivery to the colon improves therapeutic efficacy for various conditions.
- Understanding colonic physiology is crucial for designing successful delivery systems.
Conclusions:
- Colon-targeted drug delivery holds significant therapeutic potential.
- Further research into colon-specific delivery systems is warranted to optimize treatment outcomes.
- This review highlights key considerations for developing and evaluating these systems.