Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
07:28
Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System
Published on: April 6, 2017
40.9K
Allergen to asset: Pollen-based drug delivery systems
Mohammed Shahrudin Bin Ibrahim1, Abdul Rahim Ferhan1, Chenchen Zhou1
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore; Centre for Cross Economy, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, 637551, Singapore.
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|July 4, 2025
Summary
Pollen, once an allergen, is now a promising sustainable material for drug delivery. Researchers are developing pollen microgels for efficient and eco-friendly therapeutic transport.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- Allergen Research
Background:
- Growing demand for sustainable therapeutics faces manufacturing challenges.
- Natural polymer microcarriers are promising but complex and resource-intensive.
- Pollen, an allergen, is being explored as a novel microcarrier material.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural microcarriers and highlight pollen's potential in drug delivery.
- To discuss pollen-derived microcarriers, focusing on soft microgel variants.
- To explore the sustainable 'Cross Economy' approach using pollen.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on natural polymer microcarriers.
- Analysis of pollen's properties for drug delivery applications.
- Examination of soft pollen microgel fabrication and characteristics.
Main Results:
- Pollen exhibits desirable microcarrier qualities for encapsulating diverse cargo.
- Pollen-derived microcarriers, especially soft microgels, offer efficient, targeted delivery.
- Soft pollen microgels align with the 'Cross Economy' concept for value creation.
Conclusions:
- Pollen is a viable, sustainable alternative for advanced drug delivery systems.
- Further research into pollen microgels can accelerate their clinical translation.
- Exploiting pollen transforms a low-value allergen into a high-value pharmaceutical asset.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
471
Drug delivery methods like oral inhalation, nasal sprays, transdermal patches, eye drops, intravitreal injection, and rectal administration provide localized effects with reduced toxicity.
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
471
01:16Drug Delivery: Overview
428
The selection of a drug's delivery route depends upon its physicochemical properties, including lipid or water solubility and ionization, as well as the therapeutic requirement, such as immediate or sustained effect. These routes can be divided into three primary categories: enteral, parenteral, and topical.
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...
Enteral delivery involves administering drugs directly through swallowing, sublingual placement, or buccal application. Orally administered drugs predominantly navigate the...
428
01:18Drug Delivery: Enteral Route
747
The enteral drug administration involves three primary routes: oral, sublingual, and buccal. Oral ingestion is the most prevalent, safe, economical, and convenient method for drug administration. However, it has certain drawbacks, including limited absorption due to the drug's low water solubility or poor membrane permeability, possible emesis from GI mucosa irritation, destruction of drugs by digestive enzymes or low gastric pH, and irregular absorption along with food or other drugs.
747
01:15Non-Oral Extravascular Drug Absorption Routes
301
Non-oral extravascular routes, which encompass sublingual, buccal, topical, intramuscular, and inhalation methods, primarily utilize passive diffusion to transport drugs into the systemic circulation. The absorption rates and effectiveness of these routes depend on the drug's physicochemical properties, as well as the patient's anatomical and pathophysiological state.
Lipophilic drugs that are stable at salivary pH (6) and exhibit minimal binding to the oral mucosa are absorbed more...
Lipophilic drugs that are stable at salivary pH (6) and exhibit minimal binding to the oral mucosa are absorbed more...
301
01:29Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
864
The parenteral route is a critical method of drug administration. It delivers compounds directly into the systemic circulation and bypasses the gastrointestinal tract. This approach is particularly advantageous for drugs that exhibit poor absorption or instability when administered orally.
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
864
01:23Inhaled Medications
398
Inhaled medications are crucial for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. They are essential for effective treatment and control, ensuring optimal respiratory health and well-being. Inhaled medication delivers drugs directly to the lungs, providing a rapid onset of action and reducing systemic side effects compared to oral or injectable medications. Three primary types of inhalation devices are used to administer these medications: nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers...
398