Abstract

MICROSPHERES: AS NEW DRUG DELIVERY SYSYTEM

Vikrant Deshmukh*, Shubhangi Warad, Rahul Solunke, Shital Walunj, Shivaprasad Palve, Ganesh Jagdale

ABSTRACT

Microspheres are characteristically free flowing powders consisting of proteins or synthetic polymers which are biodegradable in nature and ideally having a particle size less than 200 μm. A well designed controlled drug delivery system can overcome some of the problems of conventional therapy and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of a given drug. There are various approaches in delivering a therapeutic substance to the target site in a sustained controlled release fashion. One such approach is using microspheres as carriers for drugs. It is the reliable means to deliver the drug to the target site with specificity, if modified, and to maintain the desired concentration at the site of interest without untoward effects. Microspheres received much attention not only for prolonged release, but also for targeting of anticancer drugs to the tumour. In future by combining various other strategies, microspheres will find the central place in novel drug delivery, particularly in diseased cell sorting, diagnostics, gene & genetic materials, safe, targeted and effective in vivo delivery and supplements as miniature versions of diseased organ and tissues in the body. The purpose of the review is to compile various types of microspheres, different methods to preparation, its applications and also various parameters to evaluate their efficiency.

Keywords: Microspheres, Target site, Therapeutic efficacy, Novel drug delivery.