PRODRUG DESIGN FOR OPTIMIZED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Abstract

The term pro drug refers to a pharma cologically inactive compound that is converted to an active drug by a me tabolic bio transformation. Pro drug design may be useful in circumventing problems associated such as Solubility, absorption and distribution, site specificity, Instability, prolonged release, Toxicity. Pro drug design comprises an area of drug research devoted to optimization of drug delivery. These are designed to maximize the amount of active drug that reaches its site of action, through manipulation of the physicochemical, biopharma ceutical or pharmacokinetic properties of the drug. Almost all drugs possess some undesirable physicochemical and biological properties. Their therapeutic efficacy can be improved by minimizing or eliminating the undesirable properties while retaining the desirable ones. This can be achieved through biological, phys ical or chemical means. The pro drug approach, a chemical approach using reversible derivatives, can be useful in the optimization of the clinical a pplication of a drug. Hence pro drug approach gai ned attention as a technique for improving drug therapy.