Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
10:16
Targeted Plasma Membrane Delivery of a Hydrophobic Cargo Encapsulated in a Liquid Crystal Nanoparticle Carrier
Published on: February 8, 2017
[Recent development of targeted drug delivery system]
Peng-ju Zhou1, Sheng-qi Deng, Qian-fei Gong
1Sichuan Industrial Institute of Antibiotics, China National Pharmaceutical Group, Chengdu 610052, China.
Yao Xue Xue Bao = Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica
|March 1, 2011
Summary
Targeted drug delivery concentrates medications at the treatment site, reducing dosage, cost, and side effects. This review explores advancements in passive, active, and physical/chemical targeting strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Drug Development
Context:
- Targeted drug delivery aims to improve therapeutic efficacy and patient outcomes.
- Current research focuses on enhancing drug concentration at the disease site.
- Minimizing systemic exposure reduces adverse effects and treatment costs.
Purpose:
- To review recent advancements in targeted drug delivery.
- To categorize and discuss key targeting strategies.
- To highlight the progress in passive, active, and physical/chemical targeting.
Summary:
- Passive targeting utilizes the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for drug accumulation.
- Active targeting employs ligands to bind specific cell receptors for precise delivery.
- Physical and chemical targeting involves external stimuli or drug modification for controlled release.
Impact:
- Improved drug efficacy and reduced toxicity.
- Potential for personalized medicine and novel therapeutic approaches.
- Significant implications for pharmaceutical research and clinical practice.
Related Concept Videos
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.
01:24Site-Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Polymeric Carriers
Polymeric carriers enhance targeted drug delivery by increasing efficacy while minimizing off-target effects. These carriers comprise a biodegradable polymeric backbone integrated with functional elements that enable targeting, improve physicochemical properties, and regulate drug release.Targeting MechanismsThe targeting ability of polymeric carriers is mediated by a homing device, which is a molecular recognition component designed to selectively bind to specific tissues or cells. Monoclonal...
01:19Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Overview
Modified-release dosage forms are designed to address the limitations of drugs with short biological half-lives. These forms maintain stable therapeutic drug concentrations over extended periods, reducing the need for frequent dosing. A consistent drug level helps minimize peak-trough fluctuations, which can reduce adverse effects, lower the risk of drug resistance, and improve overall treatment effectiveness.One common type of modified-release form is the extended-release (ER) formulation. ER...
01:19Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Rate-Programmed II
Rate-programmed drug delivery systems release drugs in a controlled manner to maintain therapeutic levels. Three main designs include reservoir, matrix, and hybrid systems.Reservoir systems consist of a drug core enclosed within a membrane that controls drug release. In non-swelling reservoir systems, polymers like ethyl cellulose or polymethacrylates are used. These do not hydrate in aqueous media and control release through membrane thickness, porosity, or insolubility. This type includes...
01:23Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Classification
Modified-release drug delivery systems improve drug efficacy and minimize side effects by controlling the rate and location of drug release. These systems fall into three categories: rate-programmed, stimuli-activated, and site-targeted.Rate-programmed systems release drugs at a predetermined rate, maintaining consistent therapeutic levels and reducing fluctuations that could lead to toxicity or subtherapeutic effects. These systems use polymeric matrices, reservoir-based designs, or osmotic...
01:22Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Rate-Programmed I
Rate-programmed drug delivery systems (DDS) are designed to release drugs at specific, controlled rates to maintain consistent therapeutic levels. These systems are categorized based on their release mechanisms, including dissolution-controlled DDS, diffusion-controlled DDS, and combined dissolution-diffusion-controlled DDS.In dissolution-controlled DDS, the release rate depends on the slow dissolution of the drug itself or the surrounding matrix. Drugs with inherently slow dissolution rates,...