Oral drug delivery systems using chemical conjugates or physical complexes

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Oral drug delivery is hindered by the gastrointestinal tract's degradation of proteins and peptides.
• Existing technologies like enteric coating offer limited protection for therapeutic proteins and peptides.
• Low inherent drug permeability remains a significant, long-standing challenge in oral delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize current strategies for enhancing intestinal permeability of oral drug molecules.
• To discuss methods for modifying either the drug or the intestinal epithelium to improve absorption.
• To explore future perspectives in oral delivery strategies for therapeutics.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on drug delivery strategies.
• Analysis of methods involving drug molecule modification (conjugation) to alter cell permeability.
• Examination of approaches modifying the epithelial barrier function.

Main Results:

• Strategies focus on enhancing drug permeation by altering drug properties or epithelial function.
• Conjugation of molecules to drugs can modify cell permeability.
• Co-administration with agents that alter barrier function can improve drug permeation.

Conclusions:

• Significant advancements are being made in overcoming oral delivery challenges for proteins and peptides.
• Modifying drug molecules or the intestinal epithelium are key approaches to enhance permeability.
• Continued research into these strategies holds promise for future oral therapeutic delivery.