Controlled Release Formulations for Alternate Routes of Administration

Drug delivery technologies have been developed to improve treatment outcomes in many pathways, such as by enhancing therapeutic efficacy, reducing toxicity, increasing patient compliance, and enabling entirely new medical treatments. Drug delivery can be done through various routes such as oral (through the mouth), topical (skin), transmucosal (nasal, buccal, sublingual, vaginal, ocular, rectal), parenteral (injection into systemic circulation), and inhalation routes. The drug delivery systems can basically divide into two main types: conventional drug delivery system and novel drug delivery system. The conventional dosage forms provide drug release immediately after administration, and it causes fluctuation of drug level in blood depending upon dosage form. We cannot modify drug release pattern in conventional drug delivery system, therefore, to maintain the drug concentration within therapeutically effective range, and patient compliance needs novel drug delivery system (NDDS). NDDS is a combination of advanced techniques and newer dosage form with controlled and sustained drug release to the target at specific site. In controlled drug delivery system, drug concentration rise quickly to achieve effective level and maintain it for longer duration. The controlled release drug product includes various types of oral extended-release rate dosage forms, including sustained release, sustained action, prolonged action, long action, slow release, and programmed drug delivery. In this chapter, we discussing about various alternative route of administration tools used for various kind of controlled release drug delivery systems along with advantages and disadvantages of controlled release drug delivery systems.