[Oral bioavailability and drug/carrier particulate systems]

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems

Context:

• Oral drug administration is preferred but limited by poor drug bioavailability.
• New chemical entities often have low stability, solubility, permeability, or undergo extensive first-pass metabolism.
• Conventional oral formulations fail for many potent drug substances.

Purpose:

• To explore drug/carrier assembling systems as an innovative approach for oral drug delivery.
• To protect drug molecules from gastrointestinal degradation and enhance absorption.
• To improve the development of potent drug substances unsuitable for conventional oral formulations.

Summary:

• Drug molecules are entrapped in biocompatible carriers (lipids, polymers) to form particulate systems.
• Fine particle size and supramolecular organization enhance dissolution and absorption through intestinal epithelium and lymphatic transport.
• Mucoadhesive carriers (e.g., chitosan) and ligands (e.g., lectins) further improve drug absorption via enhanced cell contact and specific binding.

Impact:

• Drug/carrier particulate systems show promise for delivering potent drugs with poor oral bioavailability.
• This strategy could lead to improved therapeutic benefits compared to conventional formulations.
• Further research is needed to confirm therapeutic benefits, scalability, and regulatory compatibility.