Novel Approaches and Developments in Colon Specific Drug Delivery Systems- A Review

Colon specific drug delivery has gained increased importance not for the treatment of local diseases associated with the colon but also as potential site for systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins and peptides. Colon is a site where both local and systemic delivery of drug can take place. Treatment could be more effective if it is possible for drug to be directly to colon. Systemic side effects can also be reduced the primary approaches to obtain colon specific delivery is based on prodrugs, pH and time dependent systems (or) microflora activated systems and have achieved limited success only. Most recently new colon – specific delivery systems are developed. These are pressure controlled colon delivery capsules, CODESTM, colon drug delivery systems based on pectin and galactomam coating, hydrogels, osmotic controlled drug delivery system, pulsincap system, time clock system, chronotropic system, enterion capsule technology. The review is aimed at understanding above pharmaceutical approaches to colon targeted drug delivery systems for better therapeutic action without compromising on drug degradation (or) its low bioavailability.