Journal of Applied Pharmacy
Open Access

Physiologically based Emerging Dosage Forms and Therapeutics of Biopharmaceutics

^*Correspondence: Steven Markus, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, Email:

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Description

Biopharmaceutics is a multidisciplinary field of study that deals with the principles and applications of pharmacology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences to develop effective drug products. The field aims to understand the behavior of drugs in the human body and their interaction with biological systems, with the ultimate goal of optimizing drug efficacy and safety. Biopharmaceutics involves the study of drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion, which are collectively referred to as ADME. These processes are influenced by various physiological, chemical, and environmental factors, and understanding their complex interplay is critical to developing drugs that can be safely and effectively administered to patients. For example, drugs with poor solubility or permeability may have limited bioavailability and require specialized formulation approaches to enhance their delivery to target sites.

One of the key areas of focus in biopharmaceutics is the development of drug delivery systems that can overcome various barriers to drug delivery and improve therapeutic outcomes. Traditional drug delivery systems such as oral tablets, capsules, and injections have limitations in terms of their ability to deliver drugs to specific target sites or maintain drug levels in the body over an extended period. Therefore, researchers are exploring new technologies such as nanotechnology, gene therapy, and tissue engineering to develop innovative drug delivery systems that can improve drug efficacy and safety. Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising area of research in biopharmaceutics, as it offers the potential to develop targeted drug delivery systems that can selectively deliver drugs to specific cells or tissues in the body. Nanoparticles such as liposomes, dendrimers, and polymeric nanoparticles can be engineered to improve drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, as well as to enable targeted drug delivery to tumor sites or other specific tissues. These systems can also be designed to overcome various physiological barriers to drug delivery, such as the blood-brain barrier, which can limit the delivery of drugs to the brain. Another emerging area of research in biopharmaceutics is gene therapy, which involves the use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) or Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) to treat genetic disorders or other diseases. Gene therapy holds great promise for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, including cancer, inherited disorders, and viral infections. However, the development of effective gene therapy strategies requires a deep understanding of the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in gene expression and regulation. Biopharmaceutics researchers are working to develop new gene delivery systems that can effectively deliver therapeutic genes to target cells and tissues while minimizing off-target effects and immunogenicity.

Tissue engineering is another area of biopharmaceutics research that involves the use of living cells, biomaterials, and engineering principles to develop functional tissues and organs for transplantation or other therapeutic purposes. Tissue engineering holds great promise for the treatment of various diseases and injuries, including heart disease, diabetes, and spinal cord injuries. Researchers in biopharmaceutics are exploring new approaches to tissue engineering, including the use of stem cells, 3D printing, and bioengineering strategies to create functional tissues that can integrate with the host tissue and promote tissue regeneration.

In addition to developing new drug delivery systems and therapeutic approaches, biopharmaceutics researchers also play an important role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of existing drugs. This involves conducting studies to evaluate drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity in humans and animals. These studies are critical in ensuring that drugs are safe and effective when administered to patients and can inform decisions regarding dosing, drug interactions, and potential side effects.

In recent years, biopharmaceutics has also played an increasingly important role in the development of biological drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, peptides, and nucleic acid-based drugs. Biologics are typically more complex than small-molecule drugs and require specialized formulation and delivery strategies to ensure their stability and efficacy. Another important area of research in biopharmaceutics is drug-drug interactions. Many drugs can interact with each other, either by altering their pharmacokinetics (e.g., by inhibiting or inducing drug metabolism) or by altering their pharmacodynamics (e.g., by competing for the same receptor site). Understanding these interactions is essential for optimizing drug therapy and minimizing the risk of adverse effects.