Ligand-Mediated Gastrointestinal Targeting

Abstract

This chapter will describe the rationale for drug targeting to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, why it is important, and what the objectives of such targeting are. The approaches used to achieve these targeting objectives using ligands will be considered and discussed in detail. It it is important to consider some of the pharmaceutical issues involved, such as the type of vehicles to which ligands can be usefully attached. It should be stressed that at the current time, much of the work in this area is theoretical and experimental, with studies in cell culture systems or animals, and has yet to be transferred to man, let alone into pharmaceutical products on the market. In many cases, costs and regulatory considerations may make it prohibitive for the pharmaceutical industry to adopt some of the most interesting ideas emanating from the research laboratories.