Recent trends and advances in microbe-based drug delivery systems

Area of Science:

• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biotechnology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) face challenges like drug resistance, necessitating advanced alternatives.
• Current DDSs improve quality of life but require enhanced targeting and reduced side effects.
• Microbe-based DDSs are emerging as a solution for targeted therapeutic delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of microbe-based drug delivery systems.
• To highlight the advantages of using microorganisms as therapeutic carriers.
• To discuss applications in targeted therapy and disease treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on microbe-based drug delivery.
• Analysis of microbial properties relevant to drug delivery (e.g., self-propulsion, in-situ production).
• Exploration of specific examples like Lactococcus lactis and viral vectors.

Main Results:

• Microorganisms offer unique properties like self-propulsion and tumor penetration for targeted delivery.
• Lactococcus lactis shows therapeutic potential for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• Bacteria, viruses (oncolytic, vectors), and viral immunotherapy are key areas of research.

Conclusions:

• Microbe-based DDSs provide safe, non-toxic, site-specific delivery with fewer side effects.
• Microorganisms serve as effective carriers and therapeutic agents in drug delivery.
• Further research into microbial properties can lead to highly effective drug delivery carriers.