Evolution of Delivery Mechanisms
Over the years, drug delivery has evolved from being a simplistic process of oral administration to advanced technologies that facilitate controlled and targeted administration of medications. Early delivery methods such as oral pills and injections had several limitations including lack of control over drug levels in the body. This led to development of transdermal patches, inhalers, implants and injectable systems that could maintain optimal drug concentrations and reduce dosing frequency. More recently, advanced delivery platforms use micro- and nanotechnology approaches for controlled, sustained and targeted delivery.
Transdermal Drug Delivery Device
Transdermal patches emerged as an alternative to oral pills, allowing drugs to permeate the skin and enter systemic circulation continuously over time. Compared to oral administration, transdermal delivery avoids gastric irritation and first-pass metabolism. Patches also promote patient compliance by eliminating multiple daily doses. Advanced transdermal technologies now use microprojections to overcome the skin barrier for enhanced delivery of macromolecular drugs. Smart patches with miniaturized electronics sense physiological parameters and automatically adjust drug release. Companies are developing reusable microarray patches for rapid delivery of different drugs on demand.
Inhalable and Pulmonary Drug Delivery Device
Inhalation offers direct access to the alveoli in lungs, enabling localized or systemic delivery of drugs for lung diseases like asthma and COPD. Contemporary inhaled formulations use propellants, dry powder carriers or nebulizers for accurate dosing. Connected inhalers with sensors monitor usage patterns and send alerts to improve adherence. Personalized medicine will integrate real-time diagnostics with smart Drug Delivery Device technologies for truly precision therapies based on individual pathophysiology and lifestyles. 3D printing is applied to customize geometry of inhaler chambers and aerosolization parameters as per patient's pulmonary function. Biodegradable polymeric microparticles containing anti-tubercular drugs achieve sustained release for months with high bioavailability in deep lungs.
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