REDEFINING DRUG DELIVERY: A REVIEW OF CLINICALLY PROVEN NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY TECHNOLOGIES

Dr. Praveen Kumar R. Biradar*, Bilquees Mukhtar, Neela Madhav S., Ajay Kumar S. N., Dr. E. Gopinath

Novel Drug Delivery Systems (NDDS) have emerged as one of the most important developments in modern pharmaceutical sciences. Traditional dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, and injections often face challenges including poor bioavailability, rapid drug degradation, frequent dosing requirements, and undesirable side effects due to non-specific drug distribution. NDDS has been developed to address these limitations by improving the way drugs are delivered, released, and targeted within the body. Advanced delivery platforms such as liposomes, nanoparticles, transdermal systems, controlled-release formulations, and lipid nanoparticles have significantly enhanced therapeutic outcomes while reducing toxicity and improving patient compliance. This review adopts a case study-based approach to examine the clinical success of five widely recognised NDDS products: liposomal doxorubicin (Doxil®), albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles (Abraxane®), fentanyl transdermal patches, metformin extended-release tablets, and lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Each case study highlights the therapeutic challenge, delivery strategy, clinical benefits, limitations, and future prospects associated with the technology. Furthermore, the review discusses emerging trends including artificial intelligence-assisted formulation development, stimuli-responsive delivery systems, personalised medicine, and theragnostic platforms. Collectively, these advancements demonstrate the transformative role of NDDS in improving patient care and shaping the future of pharmaceutical therapy.