Oral Drug Delivery

Dendrimers are highly branched, synthetic macromolecules that have shown great potential as drug delivery vehicles. They have a defined, nano-scale size and shape that makes them ideal for targeted drug delivery. When used for oral drug delivery, dendrimers can protect drugs from degradation in the stomach and enhance their absorption in the intestines.

Overview of Oral Administration

Oral drug delivery is a safe, convenient, and effective route of drug administration that can be used for a wide range of diseases and conditions. The following advantages over other routes of drug delivery.

• Convenience: Oral drug delivery is easy and convenient for patients as it does not require any special training or equipment. Patients can take medication at home or on the go, making it a preferred choice for chronic diseases.
• Non-invasive: Oral drug delivery is non-invasive and does not involve needles or injections, which can be painful and cause anxiety in some patients.
• High Patient Compliance: Patients are more likely to adhere to their medication regimen with oral drug delivery as it is simple, painless, and convenient.
• Targeted Delivery: With advancements in drug delivery technologies, oral drug delivery can provide targeted drug delivery to specific parts of the gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or intestines.
• Cost-effective: Oral drug delivery is a cost-effective option as it does not require special equipment or trained personnel for administration.
• Flexibility: Oral drug delivery allows for a range of drug formulations, such as tablets, capsules, liquids, and powders, which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the patient.

Advantages of Dendrimers When Used for Oral Drug Delivery

One of the key advantages of using dendrimers for oral drug delivery is their ability to form stable complexes with drugs, protecting them from degradation and enhancing their solubility. Additionally, dendrimers can be functionalized with targeting ligands or other functional groups to improve their specificity and efficacy. Dendrimers can also be designed to release drugs in a controlled manner, allowing for sustained drug release over an extended period.

Schematic description of the main routes of administration of dendrimers. (Mignani S, et al., 2021)

As a fast-growing custom service provider specializing in dendrimer research, CD BioSciences is dedicated to helping you develop dendrimers for oral drug delivery.

Challenges and Countermeasures of Dendrimers for Oral Drug Delivery

However, there are several challenges to overcome before dendrimers can be used effectively for this purpose.

• Avoids Degradation
  One of the main challenges is the need to protect the dendrimer from degradation in the acidic environment of the stomach. This can be achieved by modifying the surface of the dendrimer with pH-sensitive or mucoadhesive groups.
• Crosses the Intestinal Barrier into the Bloodstream
  Another challenge is the need to improve the dendrimer's ability to cross the intestinal barrier and enter the bloodstream. This can be achieved by modifying the dendrimer's surface with ligands that can bind to specific receptors on the intestinal epithelium, or by incorporating permeation enhancers into the dendrimer structure.
• Biocompatible and Non-toxic
  Finally, dendrimers must also be biocompatible and non-toxic to be used as drug delivery systems. This can be achieved by using biodegradable dendrimers, or by modifying the dendrimer's surface with biocompatible groups.

How We Can Help

Dendrimers have been and will continue to be important polymers in the biomedical field. As a global service provider for dendrimer research and product development, CD BioSciences provides the right expertise in the development of dendrimers to improve productivity, efficiency and profitability, and to bring products to market with a wide range of applications. If you are interested in our services, please contact us and tell us about your project.

Reference

1. Mignani S.; et al. Functionalized Dendrimer Platforms as a New Forefront Arsenal Targeting SARS-CoV-2: An Opportunity. Pharmaceutics. 2021, 13: 1513.