Flurbiprofen for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review of Colon-Targeted Formulations

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are both classified as forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Strategies that reduce overall systemic exposure while delivering antiinflammatory drug directly to the inflamed colon are necessary for treating IBD. Flurbiprofen is an effective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) with potential utility in IBD because it inhibits cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2, thereby reducing the synthesis of proinflammatory prostaglandins. However, its clinical use for IBD may be limited by gastrointestinal toxicity and the inadequate delivery of conventional oral formulations to the inflamed colonic mucosa. These limitations may result in insufficient drug concentrations at the target site while increasing systemic exposure and the risk of adverse effects. Consequently, colon-targeted flurbiprofen delivery systems are being explored to enhance local therapeutic efficacy and minimize gastrointestinal and systemic toxicity. The current status of colon-targeted drug delivery has improved recently. Flurbiprofen may be locally delivered using techniques such as pH-sensitive coatings, timed release systems, hydrogels, polysaccharide-based matrices, nanoparticles, and microbially triggered platforms. The improvement in both therapeutic efficacy and drug safety in the management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with flurbiprofen will depend on integrating preclinical and clinical evidence. Key considerations include current formulation approaches, colon-targeting strategies, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variables, interspecies differences in intestinal microbiota, stability concerns, and the challenges of translating preclinical findings to humans. Future research should focus on customized delivery systems and hybrid nanocarriers for targeted flurbiprofen delivery, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic adverse effects.