Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 11.1
Routes.of.Drug.Administrati
on
AdministrationRoute
InteractingBiologicalSystems
Nasal
Nose
Topical.and.dermal.
Skin
Intramuscular.(im)
Muscle
Intravenous.(iv)
Circulatory.system
Parenteral.(subcutaneous:.sc)
Skin
Ocular
Eye
Pulmonary
Lung
Vaginal
Vaginal.mucosa
Rectal
Rectum/colon
Buccal.and.oral
Oral.cavity.and.gastrointestinal.tract
Intraperitoneal.(ip)
Peritoneum
Intrathecal.(it)
Central.nervous.system.(vertebra)
Although.there.are.many.disadvantages.associated.with.the.oral.route,.it.still.is.a.very.
successful,.convenient,.and.therefore.preferred.route.of.administration.for.normal.drugs..
In.this.application.the.drug.applied.has.to.pass.through.the.highly.variable.gastrointesti-
nal.system..Low.pH.of.the.stomach.tends.to.affect.both.stability.and.solubility.of.drugs..
Also,.the.intestine.has.some.rather.demanding.requirements,.like.motility,.mucus.barriers,.
high.metabolic.activity,.and.relative.impermeability.of.the.epithelium.
9
.For.a.drug.deliv-
ery.system,.however,.most.of.these.routes,.including.the.oral.one,.have.certain.limitations.
because.of.the.special.demands.of.the.target.site,.and.therefore.case-by-case.solutions.have.
to.be.provided.
In.the.following.sections,.nanomaterial-based.drug.delivery.systems.using.lipoid.(lipo-
somes).or.polymeric.nanoparticles.will.be.discussed.
11.2 NanoparticulatesforDrugDeliverySystems
Nanosystems.have.been.in.the.spotlight.in.recent.years,.especially.with.their.applications.
in.biotechnology..Nanotechnology.is.focused.on.processes.and.materials.at.the.atomic.and.
molecular.level..The.main.concern.of.this.area.is.on.the.1-100.nm.scale..The.irst.use.of.the.
word.
nanotechnology
.was.during.a.talk;.“There.is.plenty.of.room.at.the.bottom,”.said.Nobel.
laureate. Richard. Feynman.
10
. Nanotechnology. has. a. great. range. of. applications. in. ibers.
and.textiles,
11
.agriculture,
12,13
.electronics,
14
.forensic.science,
15
.and.medical.therapeutics,
16-21
.
among. others.. The. interaction. of. nanotechnology. with. other. areas. of. engineering. and.
science. has. opened. up. new. opportunities,. especially. in. nanobiotechnology,. which. is.
described.as.the.application.of.principles.of.nanotechnology.in.biological.systems..In.this.
new.ield,.nanotechnology.is.the.provider.of.devices.and.technology,.while.biological.sys-
tems.are.the.inspiration.and.models.for.the.technology.
22
Nanoparticles. are.very.important.tools.for.nanobiotechnology.applications,.especially.
in. medicine.. They. can. be. utilized. in. various. cell. and. tissue. imaging. techniques,. e.g.,.
