Question

What is targeted drug delivery? Discuss some strategies in targeted drug delivery

Answer 1

Targeted drug delivery otherwise known as smart drug delivery. In this method deliver the medicament to a patient by increasing the concentration of medicament in certain areas compared to another region. This type of delivery is mainly done in nanomedicines. Along with drugs nanoparticles are loaded,then it can be targeted to a particular site of body. The importance of targeted drug delivery includes prolong the time,localized and targeted and protected drug interactions with the diseased tissue.
Strategies in targeted drug delivery
The main strategies in targeted drug delivery includes,
Passive targeting
Inverse targeting
Active targeting
Ligand mediated targeting
Physical targeting
Dual targeting
Double targeting
Passive targeting
Passive delivery system which is targeted on the systemic circulation. In this method drug targeted on the body's natural response to physicochemical characters of drug or the carrier system.
Inverse targeting
In this method to avoid the passive uptake of colloidal carrier by reticulo endothelial system,so it is known as inverse targeting. To attain inverse targeting, reticulo endothelial system can be suppressed by preinject high amount of blank colloidal carriers or macromolecules such as dextran sulphate. This mathod achieve saturation of reticulo endothelial system and they can suppress the defence mechanism. It is very effective method for target drug and non endothelial organs.
Active targeting
In this method carrier system take the drug and reach on specific site ,the variation in its surface rather than natural uptake by the reticulo endothelial system. The surface modification includes coating in surface by bioadhesive,non ionic surfactant etc.
Ligand mediated targeting
In this cetain mechanisms are involved such as receptor dependent uptake of naturally occurring LDL particles, synthetic lipid microemulsions of partially reconstituted LDL particles covered with apoproteins.
Physical targeting
In this certain factors are involved such as pH, temperature,light intensity,electric field,ionic strength etc. This is exceptional for tumour targeting as well as cystolic delivery of entrapped genetic material.
Dual targeting
The carrier molecule have its own therapeutic actions and it can enhance the therapeutic action.
Double targeting
It is the combination of temporal and spatial methodologies along with the targeted carrier system. So it is known as double targeting.