title: Colonic drug delivery: an updated review.
abstract: Specific targeting of drug to the colon is recognized to have several therapeutic advantages. Drugs that are destroyed by the acidic environment of the stomach or metabolized by pancreatic enzymes are only slightly affected in the colon. Sustained colonic delivery of drugs can be useful in the treatment of nocturnal asthma, angina, and arthritis. Treatment of colonic diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and colorectal cancer is more effective with direct delivery of drugs to the colon. This article is aimed at providing insight into the design considerations and evaluation of colonic drug delivery systems. The anatomy and physiology of the lower gastrointestinal tract is discussed; then the biopharmaceutical aspects are considered in relation to drug absorption in the colon. Various approaches to colon-specific drug delivery are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamdard University, New Delhi 110062, India. ajmal_shareef@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: M Ajmal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shareef
authors.forename: Roop K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Khar
authors.forename: Alka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.forename: Farhan Jalees
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Swita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raghava
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003106:Colon / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011506:Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011506:Proteins