Phase 4: Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Phase 4: Novel Drug Delivery Systems contains 5 topic pages in Pharmaceutics.

Novel Drug Delivery Systems, commonly abbreviated NDDS, are engineered carrier systems designed to deliver a drug at a controlled rate, to a targeted site, and at an optimised concentration, thereby maximising therapeutic benefit while minimising adverse effects. These systems address, in particular, the bioavailability limitations of BCS Class II and Class IV compounds, enable site-specific or cell-specific targeting unattainable with conventional dosage forms, and reduce dosing frequency through sustained or controlled release. This chapter surveys the major categories of NDDS — nanoparticulate carriers, vesicular systems, microparticulate systems, and self-emulsifying systems — together with the characterisation panel used to evaluate them.