Nano- and microparticles in oral delivery of macromolecular drugs

Abstract

Oral delivery systems are highly demanded and preferred over parenteral systems as they offer an ease of administration and therefore a high patient compliance. A promising strategy in order to improve the oral uptake of macromolecular drugs is the use of micro- and nanoparticulate delivery systems. The most widely used materials and techniques applied in the development of micro- and nanocarrier systems are described as well as the strategies to modify the particle's surface in order to modulate their characteristics such as mucoadhesion, stability, protective effect, hydrophilicity or lipophilicity. Particles' properties such as membrane-passing properties, permeation-enhancing properties, mucoadhesive properties, and protective properties are extensively discussed. Furthermore, evidence for the potential of such systems is provided with examples from recent in vivo studies. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009. All rights reserved.