Role of natural polymers in the development of multiparticulate systems for colon drug targeting

Abstract

Colon-specific drug delivery has gained increased importance for the delivery of drugs for the treatment of local diseases associated with the colon. To deliver the compounds in a nondegraded form to the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract, they must first of all pass through the stomach, the upper part of the intestine and must use the characteristics of the colon to specifically release the drugs in this part of the digestive tract. The use of biodegradable polymers holds great promise to achieve targeted drug release to the colon. The family of natural polymers has great appeal to drug delivery as it comprises polymers with a large number of derivatizable groups, a wide range of molecular weights, varying chemical compositions, low toxicity, and biodegradability yet high stability. Polysaccharidases are bacterial enzymes that are available in sufficient quantity to degrade these natural polysaccharides. This article also discusses few delivery systems designed to target a drug to the colon.