Controlled Drug Delivery Systems

Abstract

The drug delivery system allows the active pharmaceutical ingredient to be released in order to elicit the desired therapeutic response. Traditional drug delivery systems (tablets, capsules, syrups, ointments, etc.) have low bioavailability and are unable to produce continuous release due to changes in plasma drug levels. The therapeutic process can be rendered worthless without an effective delivery method. Furthermore, in order to achieve optimal efficacy and safety, the medicine must be administered at a precise controlled rate and to the target spot. Controlled drug delivery systems are being developed to address the issues with traditional drug delivery. Over the last two decades, there has been a great advancement in controlled drug delivery systems, ranging from macro to nanoscale to intelligent targeted delivery. This chapter covers the fundamentals of drug delivery systems, with a focus on the medication's pharmacokinetics and current major findings in controlled medication delivery.