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Novel Drug Delivery System

NDDS Introduction, NDDS Classification with examples, Advantages, Disadvantages, and challenges

Alok Bains

11/16/20214 min read

Novel drug delivery system (NDDS)

Compiled by: Alok Bains.

The Novel Drug Delivery System (NDDS) enables the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to specific sites in the body in a controlled and sustained manner. It enhances the efficacy and safety of the therapeutic agents in the treatment of various diseases. 

Classification

There are several criteria to classify novel drug delivery systems. Such as On basis of the mechanism of drug delivery, the router of administration, and type of the carrier used in NDDS.

Classification based on the mechanism of drug release:

  1. Controlled release systems: NDDS release the drug in a controlled manner over an extended period. It maintains a therapeutic level of the drug in the body to produce a therapeutic effect for a longer duration.

  2. Targeted release system: NDDS release the drub at a specific site or specific organ in the body. This allows targeted therapy.

Classification based on the route of the drug administration

  1. Oral delivery system: NDDS dosage forms deliver drugs through the oral route. They are administered through the oral route just like tablets, capsules, liquid preparations, etc.

  2. Topical delivery system: NDDS dosage forms deliver drugs into the body through the skin or mucous membranes. They are administered just like creams, gels, etc.

  3. Parenteral delivery system: NDDS dosage forms deliver the drug through injection or infusion just like intravenous injection, intramuscular injection or implants.

  4. Inhalation delivery system: NDDS dosage forms deliver the drug through the respiratory system. They are administered just like inhalation by using a suitable inhaler.

Classification based on types of carriers.

  1.  Liposomes: They are made of lipids that encapsulate drugs to form small spherical vesicles. They target specific cells or tissues inside the human body.

  2. Nanoparticles: They are minute particles with sizes ranging from 1 nanometer to 1000 nanometers. Nanoparticles have improved solubility, stability and bioavailability.

  3. Polymeric delivery system: They are made of polymers that encapsulate the drugs. They can provide sustained release of drugs or targeted release of the drugs.

  4. Hydrigels: They are made of hydrophilic polymers that form three dimensional network. They swell and release the drugs in response to surrounding stimuli. 

 Advantages

Novel drug delivery systems have several advantages over traditional drug delivery systems such as compressed tablets, capsules, etc.

  1. Targeted delivery: NDDS delivers the drug directly to the target site inside the human body. It uses various physiological and pathological mechanisms to enhance the permeability of drugs and retention of drugs at the target site.  

  2. Improved efficacy of the drugs: NDDS deliver the drug directly to the target site inside the human body. They release the drug in a controlled and sustained manner. This results in a high concentration of the drug at the site of action. This leads to the improved therapeutic efficacy of the drug.

  3. Reduced side effects: NDDS deliver the drug directly to the target site inside the human body. Drugs will not come in contact with the other organs of the body. This helps to reduce the side effect of the drug and improved patient safety.

  4. Increased bioavailability: NDDS improves solubility and stability. NDDS deliver the drug directly to the target site inside the human body. Thus they will not enter other organs of the body. That decreases the metabolism of the drugs. These all factors improve the bioavailability of the drug.

  5. Reduced dose: NDDS deliver the drug directly to the target site inside the human body. Drugs will not be distributed throughout the body. There will be increased bioavailability. These all lead to a decrease in the dose of the drug. The drug will produce its therapeutic effect in low doses.

  6. Improved patient compliance: There will be a decrease in the dose of the drug and a decrease in the frequency of drug administration. This also minimises invasive procedures such as injections. This all leads to improved patient compliance.

Disadvantages 

Novel drug delivery systems have several advantages over conventional dosage forms. But they have also some disadvantages

  1. Complexity: NDDS are a complex system. Their development, manufacturing and administration are complex.

  2. High cost: High complexity in their development, manufacturing and administration increases the overall cost of the NDDS.

  3. Safety concern: Improper manufacturing or administration may risk failure of the system and delivery of dosage form at once. This will increase the toxicity of the drug.

  4. Regulatory challenges: Regulatory bodies frame strict compliance for NDDS due to a lack of established regulatory guidelines. 

  5. Limited compatibility: All drug molecules shall not be compatible to be developed as NDDS. This limits its usefulness for the limited number of drugs.

  6. Limited accessibility: Development, manufacturing and administration of NDDS require specialised equipment and expert competent staff. 

Challenges to NDDS:

There are several challenges in the development and implementation of NDDS. 

  1.  Manufacturing complexity: Complexity in the manufacturing of NDDS leads to an increase in the cost of dosage form

  2. Safety concern: Apart from the sudden release of drugs from improperly manufactured NDDS, some NDDS remain inside the body for a longer duration. This will be a safety concern

  3. Regulatory affair: There are no established regulatory guidelines to check and evaluate NDDS. Thus regulatory bodies hesitate to approve the product considering patient safety.

  4. Scale-up challenges: It is a challenge to scale up NDDS production from a laboratory scale to an industrial scale. There will be challenges to scaling up specialised equipment from the laboratory scale to the industrial scale.  

  5. Limited compatibility: All drugs are not compatible with NDDS.

  6. Intellectual property issues: NDDS requires huge investment in their research and development. This leads to challenges in securing and protecting intellectual property rights.

  7. Limited clinical evidence: There will be limited clinical evidence to support the safety and efficacy of NDDS.

  8. High cost: Their high-cost limit the affordability and accessibility for the patients and health care system.

    Compiled by: Alok Bains.