Colon targeted drug delivery system Recent approaches.

Author(s): Manan Patel

Abstract

The reduction in the systemic toxicity along with high efficiency of local drug delivery for the diseases of colon (crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, bowel disease, colon cancer) can be achieved by targeting the colon for drug delivery. Factors such as pH, bacteria, mucus barrier and transit time which affect the efficacy and delivery of the drug, must be considered while developing the targeted drug delivery system. The conventional ways of drug delivery to the colon has its own challenges and obstacles. Thus, the active research area for colon targeting is nanotechnology-based delivery of drugs. Nanotechnology has shown promising results like reduced toxicity, localized drug delivery, improved efficacy and high accumulation in the infected area. But these are also associated with limitations such as uptake of the drug in the upper part of the intestine, entrapment by mucus, variations due to pH, drug degradation by acid/enzyme and burst phenomenon. These compromises the therapeutic efficacy of the novel system. To prevent these obstacles, advancements in the technology of the drug delivery is needed which can provide high therapeutic efficiency. This review tries to explain the conventional methods of colon drug delivery along with the challenges associated with it. The role of novel drug delivery systems and its advances in colon targeting has been discussed along with the future prospects.

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