Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications

Abstract Oral drug administration is the preferred route for pharmaceuticals, accounting for ~90% of the global pharmaceutical market due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a comprehensive scientific and technological analysis of the latest advances in oral dosage forms f...

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Main Authors: Estefanía Martínez, Jennifer Gamboa, Carla V. Finkielstein, Ana Isabel Cañas, Marlon Andrés Osorio, Yesid Vélez, Néstor Llinas, Cristina Isabel Castro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-025-06868-5
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author Estefanía Martínez
Jennifer Gamboa
Carla V. Finkielstein
Ana Isabel Cañas
Marlon Andrés Osorio
Yesid Vélez
Néstor Llinas
Cristina Isabel Castro
author_facet Estefanía Martínez
Jennifer Gamboa
Carla V. Finkielstein
Ana Isabel Cañas
Marlon Andrés Osorio
Yesid Vélez
Néstor Llinas
Cristina Isabel Castro
author_sort Estefanía Martínez
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Oral drug administration is the preferred route for pharmaceuticals, accounting for ~90% of the global pharmaceutical market due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a comprehensive scientific and technological analysis of the latest advances in oral dosage forms for colon-targeted drug delivery. Utilizing scientific and patent databases, along with a bibliometric analysis and bibliographical review, we compared the oral dosage forms (technology) with the specific application of the technology (colon delivery) using four search equations. Our findings reveal a gap in the publications and inventions associated with oral dosage forms for colon release compared to oral dosage forms for general applications. While tablets and capsules were found the most used dosage forms, other platforms such as nanoparticles, microparticles, and emulsions have been also explored. Enteric coatings are the most frequently applied excipient to prevent the early drug release in the stomach with pH-triggered systems being the predominant release mechanism. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the last advancements and high-impact resources in the development of oral dosage forms for colon-targeted drug delivery, providing insights into the technological maturity of these approaches. Graphical Abstract
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issn 1573-4838
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Springer
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series Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-d75d1442566047e682f5c51db940a41d2025-08-20T02:59:23ZengSpringerJournal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine1573-48382025-03-0136112610.1007/s10856-025-06868-5Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applicationsEstefanía Martínez0Jennifer Gamboa1Carla V. Finkielstein2Ana Isabel Cañas3Marlon Andrés Osorio4Yesid Vélez5Néstor Llinas6Cristina Isabel Castro7Grupo de Investigación sobre Nuevos Materiales, Escuela de ingeniería, Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaGrupo de Investigación sobre Nuevos Materiales, Escuela de ingeniería, Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaIntegrated Cellular Responses Laboratory, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia TechMicología médica y experimental, Corporación para Investigaciones BiológicasGrupo de Investigación sobre Nuevos Materiales, Escuela de ingeniería, Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaGrupo de Investigación sobre Nuevos Materiales, Escuela de ingeniería, Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaDepartamento de Oncología Clínica, Clínica Vida, Fundación Colombiana de CancerologíaGrupo de Investigación sobre Nuevos Materiales, Escuela de ingeniería, Universidad Pontificia BolivarianaAbstract Oral drug administration is the preferred route for pharmaceuticals, accounting for ~90% of the global pharmaceutical market due to its convenience and cost-effectiveness. This study provides a comprehensive scientific and technological analysis of the latest advances in oral dosage forms for colon-targeted drug delivery. Utilizing scientific and patent databases, along with a bibliometric analysis and bibliographical review, we compared the oral dosage forms (technology) with the specific application of the technology (colon delivery) using four search equations. Our findings reveal a gap in the publications and inventions associated with oral dosage forms for colon release compared to oral dosage forms for general applications. While tablets and capsules were found the most used dosage forms, other platforms such as nanoparticles, microparticles, and emulsions have been also explored. Enteric coatings are the most frequently applied excipient to prevent the early drug release in the stomach with pH-triggered systems being the predominant release mechanism. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the last advancements and high-impact resources in the development of oral dosage forms for colon-targeted drug delivery, providing insights into the technological maturity of these approaches. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-025-06868-5
spellingShingle Estefanía Martínez
Jennifer Gamboa
Carla V. Finkielstein
Ana Isabel Cañas
Marlon Andrés Osorio
Yesid Vélez
Néstor Llinas
Cristina Isabel Castro
Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
title Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
title_full Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
title_fullStr Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
title_full_unstemmed Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
title_short Oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon: an existing gap between research and commercial applications
title_sort oral dosage forms for drug delivery to the colon an existing gap between research and commercial applications
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-025-06868-5
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