Targeted drug delivery

Targeted drug delivery, also known as Smart drug delivery, is a method of delivering medication to a patient in a manner that increases the concentration of the medication in some parts of the body relative to others. This method of delivery is largely founded on Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology. It is a method of treatment that is often optimized for its therapeutic properties and is designed to maximize the effect of drugs in those areas of the body where the disease is localized, thereby reducing the negative impact on healthy tissues.

Overview

The goal of targeted drug delivery is to prolong, localize, target and have a protected drug interaction with the diseased tissue. The conventional drug delivery system is the absorption of the drug across a biological membrane, whereas the targeted release system releases the drug in a dosage form. The advantages to the targeted release system is the reduction in the frequency of the dosages taken by the patient, having a more uniform effect of the drug, reduction of drug side-effects, and reduced fluctuation in circulating drug levels. The disadvantage of the system is high cost, which makes productivity more difficult and the reduced ability to adjust the dosages.

Types of Targeted Drug Delivery

Targeted drug delivery systems have been developed to optimize regenerative techniques. The system is based on a method that delivers a certain amount of a therapeutic agent for a prolonged period of time to a targeted diseased area within the body. This helps maintain the required plasma and tissue drug levels in the body, thereby preventing any damage to the healthy tissue via the drug. The drug delivery system is highly integrated and requires various disciplines, such as chemists, biologists, and engineers, to join forces to optimize this system.

Active Targeting

Active targeting, also known as ligand-mediated drug delivery, is a method of delivering medication to a patient in a manner that increases the concentration of the medication in some parts of the body relative to others.

Passive Targeting

Passive targeting exploits the difference between tumor blood vessels and normal blood vessels. Drug delivery systems, lipid- or polymer-based nanoparticles, can be designed to improve the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the drug.

See Also

• Drug delivery devices
• Drug delivery to the brain
• Drug delivery to the lungs
• Drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye
• Drug delivery to the anterior segment of the eye