Fate of polymeric nanocarriers for oral drug delivery

This review will focus on two polymeric nanocarriers: nanoparticles and micelles that have been studied for oral drug delivery at preclinical level. Their potential for oral drug delivery will first be illustrated. Then their mechanisms of uptake and their fate after oral delivery will be discussed. Future directions for oral delivery with nanocarriers will be analyzed with a special emphasis on optimal properties. The recent advances highlight the need to tune and to control their design with a good balance in their physicochemical properties and suggest that more sophisticated nanosystems will be developed for the oral delivery of drugs, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines, thanks to (i) the development of biocompatible polymers with tailored properties for oral drug delivery and formulation of nanocarriers, (ii) the understanding of cellular uptake mechanisms of polymeric nanocarriers, (iii) the novel techniques to study the fate of nanocarriers, polymers and drugs in the body and (iv) the identification of new ligands for targeted oral delivery.Major recent advancesRecent advances in the (i) development of biocompatible polymers with tailored properties for oral drug delivery and nanocarrier formulation, (ii) the understanding of cellular uptake mechanisms of polymeric nanocarriers (iii) the new techniques to study fate of nanocarriers, polymers and drugs in the body and (iv) the identification of new ligands for targeted oral delivery have promoted the development of novel polymeric carriers for the oral delivery of drugs, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines.

Graphical AbstractFigure optionsDownload high-quality image (351 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch Highlights
► Polymeric nanocarriers enhance oral delivery of biopharmaceutics and insoluble drugs.
► Targeting nanocarriers to specific cells can be achieved by grafting new ligands.
► Intestinal uptake mechanisms of nanocarriers are better understood.
► Recent advances should be used to understand the fate of nanocarrier, polymer, drug.