Formulation, Characterization and Systems of Drug Delivery

Drug delivery is the method of administering a pharmaceutical compound to achieve a desired therapeutic effect in humans or animals. The principles associated with the route of administration, drug preparation, metabolism, site-specific targeting, and toxicity are used in the process of drug delivery. The primary focus of these principles is to optimize safety and efficacy in order to improve a patient's convenience and compliance. The systems of drug delivery are characterized by the transportation of drug directly to the site, while avoiding non-diseased tissue. The recent developments in drug delivery systems include several topics such as controlled-release formulations, targeted delivery, nanomedicine, drug carriers, 3D printing, and the delivery of biologic drugs. Controlled or modified-release formulations have the potential to alter the timing and rate at which a drug is liberated. This further helps to produce adequate or sustained drug concentrations. This book provides significant information to help develop a good understanding of drug delivery. It aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects and the recent researches on the formulation, characterization and systems of drug delivery. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.