Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
Published on: October 17, 2013
Transporters in the intestine limiting drug and toxin absorption
R P J Oude Elferink1, R de Waart
1AMC Liver Center, Academic Medical Center S1-162, Meibergdreef 69-71, 1105BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands. r.p.oude-elferink@amc.uva.nl
Abstract:
The pharmacokinetic behaviour of drugs strongly depends on transporters in intestine and liver. The extent of absorption in the intestine depends on diffusion across the mucosa as well as transporter-mediated uptake across the apical membrane of enterocytes. Efflux pumps in this membrane may strongly reduce the extent of net uptake. These efflux pumps are ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters which are also expressed in the apical membrane of the hepatocyte were they mediate excretion into bile. This combined activity strongly determines whether drugs have access to the systemic circulation.
Related Concept Videos
Carrier-Mediated Transport
Active transport involves two types of membrane-spanning transporters: uptake and efflux. Uptake transporters are expressed in the small...
Hepatic Drug Clearance: Role of Transporters
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Anatomical Parameters
Drug Absorption: Factors Affecting GI Absorption
In...
Factors Influencing Drug Absorption: Disease States and Pharmacology
Substances such as alcohol and specific drugs, including antineoplastics, can also negatively impact drug absorption. For instance,...
Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
