A Review on Colon Specific Drug Delivery: Various Approaches Including Novel Approaches and Evaluation

By name, colonic drug delivery refers to targeted delivery of drugs into the lower GI tract, which occurs primarily in the large intestine (i.e. colon).Targeted drug delivery to the colon would therefore ensure direct treatment at the disease site, lower dosing and fewer systemic side effects. In addition to the local therapy, the colon also can be utilised as a portal for the drugs into the systemic circulation. Colon targeted drug delivery has gained recent importance for the treatment of colonic diseases and systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins and peptides. Treatment could be more effective if it is possible for drug to be directly delivered to colon. This article gives a detailed information related to colon, various approaches current and novel which are employed for delivery of drugs to the colon and advantages and limitation of colonic drug delivery over conventional drug delivery along with evaluation.