Clinical applications and future clinical trials of the drug delivery system

Abstract

Several factors should be considered in the administration of therapeutics, including the adaptability of drug release rates, the preservation of fragile drugs, and ensuring patient comfort and compliance. By integrating clinical and engineering principles, drug delivery systems (DDSs) present a great opportunity for the design of a clinically viable formulation in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. DDSs have a significant potential to enable controlled release of therapeutic agents at the target site, for example, cells, tissues, and organs. Controlled and targeted DDSs aim to reduce the required dose and risk of systemic side effects while increasing therapeutic efficacy. A wide variety of DDSs has been developed to date and is still being developed. Some of these are hydrogels, nanogels, dendrimers, liposomes, microspheres, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots, nanosponges, and micelles. DDSs can be used in various clinical improvements, such as lessening the risk of drug-resistant bacterial infections or increasing the efficacy of diabetes treatment. Due to their advantages, DDSs have been in development in cancer treatment, stem cell therapy, inflammatory diseases, and gene delivery. This chapter will discuss current trends and future trials of clinical applications of DDSs as well as their in vitro and in vivo performance, and preclinical assessment. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.