3D printing-assisted colon-targeted drug delivery systems

Abstract

Colon-specific drug delivery system has gained broad attention by the researchers around the globe owing to its ability to target the active pharmaceutical cargos, therapeutic proteins and/or peptides for treating different colonic disorders while avoiding systemic absorption and potential side effects. In spite of vast research investigations on developing colon specific drug delivery systems, an ideal system with potential to deliver the therapeutics at the desired site is yet to be developed. The current dosage forms for colon-specific drug delivery are either pH- dependent or delayed-released, which may suffer unadorned obstacles during ulcerative colitis where gastric transit time and colon pH are constantly changing resulting in ineffective therapy. In order to overcome such obstacles, 3D printed pharmaceutical formulations present a promising option for the colon-specific delivery of therapeutic actives against colon disorders with personalized therapy. Present chapter focus majorly on the anatomy of the large bowel, in addition to the design considerations and polymers used in the development of colon-specific drug delivery systems. The chapter also entails the brief summary on the investigations on colon-specific drug delivery with special emphasis on the use of 3D-printing assisted colon targeting drug delivery systems. In our opinion, present chapter would be beneficial to those exploring 3D-printing based colon-specific systems for potential therapeutic applications.