Transport without Side Effects
For over a century, researchers have been working to provide drugs with effective delivery mechanisms that ensure they can reach their targets in the human body. Early on, active ingredients were protected by sugar coatings in dragées. Today, innovative materials and technologies are opening up entirely new possibilities for drug delivery.
Packaging is critical in the field of medicine. The right formulation is essential for active pharmaceutical ingredients to penetrate physiological barriers and reach diseased organs effectively. This field, known as galenics, has evolved continuously, with chemists discovering innovative ways to enhance drug delivery.
Orally administered medications pass via the stomach to the small intestine. Thin coatings protect them from the acidic gastric juices, so that they reach the small intestine before they dissolve and pass through the intestinal tissue into the bloodstream.
Plastic Coatings for Medications
The gastrointestinal tract presents challenges for drug delivery, particularly in navigating the acidic environment of the stomach. This is where EUDRAGIT®, a polymethacrylate film coating, plays a vital role. A coating just 50 micrometers thick can protect active ingredients from gastric acids, enabling targeted delivery in the small intestine.
EUDRAGIT® provides significant advantages over traditional sugar coatings by minimizing added weight and preserving drug stability. This versatile platform allows for the combination of various drug attributes, facilitating precise release mechanisms tailored to specific locations within the digestive tract.
In cancer tissue (below) the blood vessels are porous, unlike those in healthy tissue (above). The active ingredient carrier can pass through the openings and into the tumor tissue. This is known as the enhanced permeability and retention or EPR effect.
Optimal Timing for Heart Patients
The use of polymethacrylates enables the development of pulsed release formulations, which can be crucial for treating conditions such as coronary heart disease. These formulations can be timed to release medication during high-risk periods.
Recent advancements in drug delivery also include targeted therapies that focus treatment directly on diseased tissues. Techniques like passive drug targeting leverage enhanced permeability to deliver drugs straight to tumors, thereby reducing side effects associated with conventional therapies.
As drug delivery science continues to advance, the vision remains focused on creating highly effective, personalized treatments that accurately target diseases while minimizing negative effects. This approach seeks to provide safer and more effective therapeutic options for patients.