Novel targeted bladder drug-delivery systems: a review

Abstract

The objective of pharmaceutics is the development of drugs with increased efficacy and reduced side effects. Prolonged exposure of the diseased tissue to the drug is of crucial importance. Drug-delivery systems (DDSs) have been introduced to control rate, time, and place of release. Drugs can easily reach the bladder through a catheter, while systemically administered agents may undergo extensive metabolism. Continuous urine filling and subsequent washout hinder intravesical drug delivery (IDD). Moreover, the low permeability of the urothelium, also described as the bladder permeability barrier, poses a major challenge in the development of the IDD. DDSs increase bioavailability of drugs, therefore improving therapeutic effect and patient compliance. This review focuses on novel DDSs to treat bladder conditions such as overactive bladder, interstitial cystitis, bladder cancer, and recurrent urinary tract infections. The rationale and strategies for both systemic and local delivery methods are discussed, with emphasis on new formulations of well-known drugs (oxybutynin), nanocarriers, polymeric hydrogels, intravesical devices, encapsulated DDSs, and gene therapy. We give an overview of current and future prospects of DDSs for bladder disorders, including nanotechnology and gene therapy.

Innovative Methods and Applications in Mucoadhesion Research

“…The most common dysfunctions are bladder cancer, interstitial cystis (IC), bladder pain syndrome, and overactive bladder (OAB). Recent comprehensive reviews on novel drug delivery systems for bladder dysfunction therapy have been recently been published …”

Broadening the antibacterial spectrum of histidine kinase autophosphorylation inhibitors via the use of ε-poly-L-lysine capped mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles

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Cell-penetrating peptide CGKRK mediates efficient and widespread targeting of bladder mucosa following focal injury

“…Likely, other conditions manifested by mucosal injury, such as interstitial cystitis, or cyclophosphamide(24) and irradiation(25) induced cystitis can also benefit from the proposed targeting approach. Indeed, in view of increased interest in effective delivery of supramolecular carriers and hydrogels to the bladder pathologies, (26, 27) the use of CPP-coupled nano- and microcarriers could offers exciting possibilities in management of acute and chronic disease of bladder mucosa. The focal catheter injury is used to mimic the pathological conditions wherein the mucosa is injured.…”