Drug carriers
Drug Carriers
Drug carriers (pronunciation: /drʌg/ /ˈkærɪərz/) are systems used to deliver medication to targeted parts of the body. They are a crucial component in drug delivery systems, enhancing the therapeutic effects of drugs while minimizing their side effects.
Etymology
The term "drug carrier" is derived from the English words "drug", referring to a substance used for medical treatment, and "carrier", meaning something that transports or delivers.
Types of Drug Carriers
There are several types of drug carriers, each with unique properties and applications:
- Liposomes: These are spherical vesicles with at least one lipid bilayer. They can carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs and deliver them to specific parts of the body.
- Nanoparticles: These are particles between 1 and 100 nanometers in size. They can be engineered to carry drugs and deliver them to specific cells or tissues.
- Microspheres: These are small spherical particles, typically made of biodegradable materials. They are often used for controlled drug release.
- Prodrugs: These are inactive compounds that are metabolized into an active drug within the body. They are often used to improve the drug's bioavailability.
Related Terms
- Pharmacokinetics: The study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body.
- Pharmacodynamics: The study of the biochemical and physiological effects of drugs and their mechanisms of action.
- Bioavailability: The proportion of a drug that enters the circulation when introduced into the body and so is able to have an active effect.
- Therapeutic index: The ratio of the dose of a drug that causes a harmful effect to the dose that produces a therapeutic effect.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Drug carriers
- Wikipedia's article - Drug carriers
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