Microbially triggered drug delivery to the colon

• Published in: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 3 - 18
• Main Authors: Sinha, V.R, Kumria, Rachna
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier B.V 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Colon - enzymology; Colon - metabolism; Colon - microbiology; Colon targeting; Colon-specific drug delivery; Drug Delivery Systems; Ecosystem; General pharmacology; Humans; Medical sciences; Microflora; Peptides - administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical Preparations - administration & dosage; Pharmaceutical technology. Pharmaceutical industry; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polymers; Polysaccharides; Prodrugs; Prodrugs - administration & dosage; Prodrugs - metabolism; Tablets, Enteric-Coated; Technology, Pharmaceutical; Colon-specific drug delivery; Microflora; Polysaccharides; Prodrugs; Colon targeting; Delivery system; Pharmaceutical technology; Targeting; Digestive system; Control release polymer; Gut; Drug carrier; Review; Prodrug; Dosage form; Colon; Polysaccharide
• ISSN: 0928-0987; 1879-0720
• DOI: 10.1016/S0928-0987(02)00221-X

Increasing acceptance of protein- and peptide-based drugs necessitates an investigation into the suitability of various sites for their administration. Colon is being investigated for delivery of such molecules. Colon-specific drug delivery is designed to target drug molecules specifically to this area. Development of site-specific delivery systems may exploit a specific property of the target site for drug activation/release. The gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by over 400 bacterial species, each having a specific niche in the tract. Colon, the distal part of the intestine is inhabited by a large variety of gram negative microflora. This flora produces a vast number of enzymes which are being exploited for formulation of colon-specific drug delivery systems. A number of microbially activated systems for colon-specific drug delivery are being evaluated. These include prodrugs and synthetic or natural polymer-based delivery systems. This article aims at reviewing the various microbially activated drug delivery systems for colon-specific drug delivery with specific reference to the microflora of the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract and their role in targeting drug delivery to the colon.