Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Construction of Cyclic Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Enhanced Penetration of Biological Barriers
Published on: September 19, 2022
Using peptides to increase transport across the intestinal barrier
M Sánchez-Navarro1, J Garcia1, E Giralt2
1Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Baldiri Reixac, 10, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Peptides offer a promising solution to improve oral drug delivery by enhancing intestinal absorption. This review explores peptide sources, mechanisms, safety, and formulation strategies for better drug permeability.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Drug Delivery
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Oral drug administration is preferred but limited by poor intestinal permeability.
- Enhancing drug absorption across the intestinal barrier is a significant challenge in pharmaceutical development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the use of peptides as enhancers for intestinal drug absorption.
- To analyze sources, mechanisms, toxicity, and formulation of peptide enhancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on peptide-mediated intestinal absorption.
- Analysis of peptide sources and absorption mechanisms.
- Evaluation of toxicological data and formulation approaches.
Main Results:
- Various peptide sources can be utilized to enhance drug permeability.
- Peptides employ diverse mechanisms to facilitate drug absorption.
- Potential toxic effects and formulation strategies require careful consideration.
Conclusions:
- Peptides present a viable strategy for improving oral drug bioavailability.
- Further research is needed to optimize peptide-based delivery systems and ensure safety.
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...
Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct...
Bioavailability Enhancement: Drug Permeability Enhancement
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
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...
Cellular Membranes and Drug Transport
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer, with hydrophilic heads oriented outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.

