Development of functional drug carriers to realize advanced medical therapy

Abstract

Drug delivery systems (DDS) have customarily been developed as part of the technology and methodology used to enhance the in vivo efficacy of therapeutic drugs. However, the DDS concept can also be used for prophylactic and diagnostic drugs to enhance their respective medical efficacy. When applied to biological signaling factors, such as growth factors and genes, which can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of cells, DDS are expected to realize cell-based tissue regeneration therapy. Basic research on biology and medicine which scientifically supports the advanced medical therapies currently available will be advanced by making use of DDS techniques. This paper overviews functional drug carriers indispensable for DDS which are part of the fundamental technology and methodology to achieve such advances. © 2007 The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.