Size-dependent nanoparticulate drug delivery in inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic autoimmune disease, whose main forms are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The main treatment of IBD includes oral administration of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive agents enclosed in traditional dosage forms, intended to release the active ingredient in the large intestine. However, most of them have been designed based on the physiology of healthy colon, which differs distinctly from conditions met in IBD patients risking adverse effects and patient intolerance. The use of nanoparticles as a drug carrier for treatment of IBD is a promising approach that is capable of solving this problem. Previous studies have shown a size-dependent behavior, where reducing the particle size, increases the targeting efficacy and the residence time compared to healthy controls.