Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2026
18:57
Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
Published on: October 17, 2013
Approaches towards enhanced transepithelial drug delivery
Soumyajit Majumdar1, Ashim K Mitra
1Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, MS 38677, USA.
Discovery Medicine
|January 26, 2007
Summary
Drug absorption is often limited by molecule properties and body processes. This review explores novel strategies to improve drug absorption through noninvasive routes like the intestine.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Delivery
- Biopharmaceutics
Background:
- Systemic drug absorption is a critical factor in oral and noninvasive drug delivery.
- Physicochemical properties and physiological barriers significantly limit the absorption of many therapeutic molecules.
- Overcoming these limitations is essential for effective drug therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss various strategies for enhancing the systemic absorption of poorly absorbed drugs.
- To explore novel approaches in drug delivery focusing on intestinal and transmucosal routes.
- To provide an overview of current research in absorption enhancement technologies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent advancements in drug absorption enhancement.
- Discussion of different classes of absorption enhancement strategies.
- Analysis of strategies applied to intestinal and other transmucosal drug delivery.
Main Results:
- Several strategies exist to overcome absorption barriers, including formulation approaches and permeation enhancers.
- Intestinal and transmucosal routes offer potential for improved drug delivery if absorption challenges are addressed.
- Novel technologies are continuously emerging to improve drug bioavailability.
Conclusions:
- Effective enhancement of drug absorption is achievable through various innovative strategies.
- Optimizing drug delivery via noninvasive routes requires a deep understanding of absorption mechanisms.
- Continued research into absorption enhancement is vital for developing more effective therapeutics.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
After oral administration, poor permeability often limits the rate at which drugs are absorbed through the intestinal epithelium. Enhancing drug permeability is crucial for effective therapy, and several strategies have been developed to overcome this challenge.One effective strategy involves the use of lipid-based formulations. These formulations enhance dissolution and solubility, targeting physiological mechanisms to increase drug absorption. This includes stimulating bile salt secretion,...
01:23Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport
Drugs need to permeate cell membranes to reach their target sites after administration. Orally administered drugs must transcend intestinal epithelial membrane barriers to infiltrate the systemic circulation. Drugs with a molecular weight of less than 500 Daltons diffuse through gaps between neighboring cells, called paracellular pathways.
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
01:24Cellular Membranes and Drug Transport
Drugs must traverse multiple biological barriers, such as multi-layered skin, single-layered intestinal epithelium, and the plasma membrane, to reach their target sites within the body. The plasma membrane, a highly structured composite of phospholipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, is the cell's protective boundary, facilitating selective substance exchange.
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer, with hydrophilic heads oriented outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer, with hydrophilic heads oriented outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.
01:24Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted
Site-targeted drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity and treatment costs. Unlike conventional methods, these systems ensure precise drug delivery, improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. Targeted drug delivery is classified into three levels. First-order targeting directs drugs to the capillary beds of specific organs or tissues. Second-order targets specific cell types, such as tumor cells, using receptor-mediated interactions.
01:16Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
In vitro experiments are crucial for understanding the transport and absorption of drugs through biological materials. These studies employ varied methods such as the diffusion cell method, the everted sac technique, and the everted ring technique.
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
01:06Carrier-Mediated Transport
Carrier-mediated transport is a pivotal process in drug absorption, particularly for lipid-insoluble drugs, and encompasses facilitated diffusion and active transport. Facilitated diffusion allows drugs to move along their concentration gradient without energy expenditure, while active transport utilizes ATP to drive drug movement against this gradient.
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...