Drug delivery systems
Drug delivery systems are engineered technologies for the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents. Drugs have long been used to improve health and extend lives. The practice of drug delivery has changed dramatically in the last few decades and even greater changes are anticipated in the near future. Biomedical engineers have contributed substantially to our understanding of the physiological barriers to efficient drug delivery, such as transport in the circulatory system and drug movement through cells and tissues; they have also contributed to the development of a number of new modes of drug delivery that have entered clinical practice.
Pronunciation
- Drug: /drʌɡ/
- Delivery: /dɪˈlɪvəri/
- Systems: /ˈsɪstəmz/
Etymology
The term "drug" is derived from the Old French "drogue", possibly deriving later into "droge-vate" from Middle Dutch meaning "dry barrels", referring to medicinal plants preserved in them. The term "system" comes from the Latin word "systema", which in turn stems from the Greek "σύστημα" (sýstēma).
Types of Drug Delivery Systems
- Oral drug delivery systems
- Transdermal drug delivery systems
- Intranasal drug delivery systems
- Parenteral drug delivery systems
- Implantable drug delivery systems
Related Terms
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Bioavailability
- Drug metabolism
- Drug discovery
- Pharmaceutical formulation
See Also
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