Designing the new generation of intelligent biocompatible carriers for protein and peptide delivery

Therapeutic proteins and peptides have revolutionized treatment for a number of diseases, and the expected increase in macromolecule-based therapies brings a new set of challenges for the pharmaceutics field. In order to fully realize the 'holy grail' and enable oral delivery, there are several major challenges associated that must be overcome. These include therapeutic instability in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, low permeability, and a narrow absorption window in the intestine. This review provides a detailed discussion of the oral delivery route, associated advantages and challenges, and recent advances in delivery technology.222