Drug Delivery Strategies for the Lower GI Tract: A Review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Biomedical Engineering
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Molecular Targeting

Background:

• Lower gastrointestinal (GI) diseases like colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease necessitate advanced drug delivery systems (DDSs).
• Current pH- and enzyme-sensitive DDSs often exhibit premature drug release and limited target specificity, hindering therapeutic efficacy.
• There is a critical need for improved DDSs to enhance treatment outcomes for intestinal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest advancements in targeted drug delivery strategies for the lower GI tract.
• To identify current limitations in existing DDSs.
• To explore novel triggering mechanisms for enhanced specificity and performance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent research on targeted drug delivery for the lower GI tract.
• Analysis of alternative triggering mechanisms beyond traditional pH and enzyme sensitivity.
• Evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduction-oxidation (redox), and modified responsive systems.

Main Results:

• Traditional pH- and enzyme-sensitive DDSs show limitations in specificity and premature release.
• Emerging strategies employ ROS, redox, and modified responsive systems to improve targeting.
• These novel approaches aim to overcome the drawbacks of conventional DDSs.

Conclusions:

• Advanced DDSs utilizing novel triggers are crucial for effective treatment of lower GI diseases.
• Enhanced specificity and controlled release are key to improving therapeutic outcomes.
• Further research into ROS, redox, and modified responsive systems holds promise for better patient quality of life.