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Published on: February 8, 2017
Ionic Liquids-Based Drug Delivery: a Perspective
Yi Lu1,2,3, Jianping Qi1,2, Wei Wu4,5,6,7
1Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery of MOE, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Ionic liquids (ILs) recently draw attention for addressing unmet needs in biomedicines. By converting solids into liquids, ILs are emerging as novel platforms to overcome some critical drawbacks associated with the application of solid or crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). ILs have shown promise in liquidizing or solubilizing APIs, or as green solvents, novel permeation enhancers or active ingredients, alone or synergistically with APIs. Meanwhile, challenges turn up in company with the deepening understanding of ILs as drug delivery carrier systems. This perspective aims to provide a sketchy overview on the status quo with specific attention paid to new problems arising from the utilization of ILs-based technologies in drug delivery.
Ionic liquids (ILs) recently draw attention for addressing unmet needs in biomedicines. By converting solids into liquids, ILs are emerging as novel platforms to overcome some critical drawbacks associated with the application of solid or crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). ILs have shown promise in liquidizing or solubilizing APIs, or as green solvents, novel permeation enhancers or active ingredients, alone or synergistically with APIs. Meanwhile, challenges turn up in company with the deepening understanding of ILs as drug delivery carrier systems. This perspective aims to provide a sketchy overview on the status quo with specific attention paid to new problems arising from the utilization of ILs-based technologies in drug delivery.
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