title: Time-controlled oral delivery systems for colon targeting.
abstract: In recent years, many research efforts have been spent in the achievement of selective delivery of drugs into the colon following oral administration. Indeed, colonic release is regarded as a beneficial approach to the pharmacological treatment or prevention of widespread large bowel pathologies, such as inflammatory bowel disease and adenocarcinoma. In addition, it is extensively explored as a potential means of enhancing the oral bioavailability of peptides, proteins and other biotechnological molecules, which are known to be less prone to enzymatic degradation in the large, rather than in the small, intestine. Based on these premises, several formulation strategies have been attempted in pursuit of colonic release, chiefly including microflora-, pH-, pressure- and time-dependent delivery technologies. In particular, this review is focused on the main design features and release performances of time-controlled devices, which rely on the relative constancy that is observed in the small intestinal transit time of dosage forms.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Chimica Farmaceutica e Tossicologica P. Pratesi, Università di Milano, V.le Abruzzi 42, 20131 Milan, Italy. andrea.gazzaniga@unimi.it
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzaniga
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maroni
authors.forename: Maria Edvige
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Sangalli
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zema
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism*; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers