MICROPARTICULATE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A REVIEW

Drug delivery systems (DDS) that can precisely control the release rates or target drugs to a specific body site have an enormous impact on the health care system. Carrier technology offers an intelligent approach for drug delivery by coupling the drug to a carrier particle such as microsphere, nanoparticles etc, which modulates the release and absorption characteristics of the drug. Microspheres/microparticles constitute an important part of this particulate drug delivery system by virtue of their small size and efficient carrier characteristics. These delivery systems offer numerous advantages compared to conventional dosage forms, which include improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, improved patient compliance and convenience. Such systems often use macromolecules as carriers for the drugs. The present review highlights several carriers used in the preparation of microparticles, preparation methods of microparticles, their release mechanisms, evaluation parameters, their advantages and applications. Therefore microparticles open up new vistas of research in the development of novel drug delivery systems. Drug delivery systems (DDS) that can precisely control the release rates or target drugs to a specific body site have an enormous impact on the health care system. Carrier technology offers an intelligent approach for drug delivery by coupling the drug to a carrier particle such as microsphere, nanoparticles etc, which modulates the release and absorption characteristics of the drug. Microspheres/microparticles constitute an important part of this particulate drug delivery system by virtue of their small size and efficient carrier characteristics. These delivery systems offer numerous advantages compared to conventional dosage forms, which include improved efficacy, reduced toxicity, improved patient compliance and convenience. Such systems often use macromolecules as carriers for the drugs. The present review highlights several carriers used in the preparation of microparticles, preparation methods of microparticles, their release mechanisms, evaluation parameters, their advantages and applications. Therefore microparticles open up new vistas of research in the development of novel drug delivery systems.