Drug Delivery Technologies

To obtain a given therapeutic response, the suitable amount of the active drug must be absorbed and transported to the site of action at the right time and the rate of input can then be adjusted to produce the concentrations required to maintain the level of the effect for as long as necessary. The distribution of the drug to tissues other than the sites of action and organs of elimination is unnecessary, wasteful, and a potential cause of toxicity. The modification of the means of delivering the drug by projecting and preparing new advanced drug delivery devices can improve therapy. The aim of advanced drug delivery devices is to control:

1. The drug release rate from formulations or dosage forms,
2. The drug rate to reach absorbing membranes and surfaces, an
3. The site-specific drug release.

The control of drug release and the control of body distribution are the two most important features of the various drug delivery devices. The most important drug delivery devices were taken into consideration and their most usefull and successful applications in disease therapy were discussed. In particular, the attention was focused on the use of microelectro-mechanical-systems, cyclodextrins (the most representative of molecular drug delivery systems), microemulsion and organogel (supramolecular aggregates), and colloidal carriers (liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, ultradeformable vesicles, nanoparticles) for delivery of drugs. Keywords: microelectro-mechanical systems; drug delivery systems; controlled release; targeting; liposomes; nanoparticles; microemulsions; cyclodextrins