Intranasal delivery: physicochemical and therapeutic aspects

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nasal Therapeutics

Background:

• Intranasal (IN) administration is a growing non-invasive drug delivery route.
• The nasal mucosa provides advantages including large surface area, rapid absorption, and potential for direct central nervous system (CNS) delivery.
• IN delivery bypasses first-pass metabolism, enhancing bioavailability for various therapeutic compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an in-depth review of the therapeutic aspects of intranasal drug delivery.
• To discuss key considerations for formulation scientists, including indication, regimen, patient population, and drug physicochemical properties.
• To illustrate the practical utility of IN dosing through case examples.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on therapeutic applications of intranasal drug delivery.
• Analysis of factors influencing IN drug efficacy, including drug properties and administration parameters.
• Inclusion of case studies demonstrating successful IN drug administration.

Main Results:

• Intranasal delivery is suitable for a wide range of therapeutics, including large molecules like peptides and proteins, often with permeation enhancers.
• Successful IN administration depends on careful consideration of the intended therapeutic indication, dosing regimen, patient characteristics, and drug physicochemical properties.
• Case examples highlight the feasibility and benefits of IN dosing for various conditions.

Conclusions:

• Intranasal drug delivery presents a promising non-invasive therapeutic option with significant advantages.
• Successful formulation and implementation require a comprehensive understanding of both drug characteristics and delivery parameters.
• This review serves as a valuable resource for scientists exploring intranasal drug delivery strategies.