An in-depth overview of controlled drug delivery systems

Abstract

Background: Drug delivery systems (DDS) are crucial in modern medicine for optimizing the therapeutic efficacy and safety of pharmaceutical agents. Traditionally, direct use of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) poses challenges such as dosing accuracy, stability, and patient compliance. Controlled drug delivery systems have emerged to address these issues by releasing drugs at a controlled rate, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and minimizing side effects. Aim: This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current advancements and future prospects in controlled drug delivery systems. It explores various DDS technologies, their mechanisms, and their impact on drug efficacy and patient adherence. Methods: The review synthesizes data from recent research on drug delivery systems, focusing on their classification, design considerations, and performance. It discusses the pharmacokinetics of drug release, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, and evaluates different controlled release mechanisms such as dissolution-controlled, diffusion-controlled, and osmotic pressure-controlled systems. Results: Controlled DDS have evolved significantly from the first-generation systems that relied on basic mechanisms like dissolution and diffusion to advanced technologies involving stimuli-responsive biomaterials. These systems now include innovations such as nanoparticle-based delivery, self-regulating devices, and long-term non-invasive methods for proteins and nucleic acids.