Injections: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SQ), depot |
Applied to a large number of drugs |
Rapidly cleared from body (IV) |
Tissues with blood access (IV) |
Chemotherapy (IV) |
Rapid onset (IV) |
Frequent injections required (IV) |
Systemic |
Vaccines (IM) |
Controlled release (IM, SQ) |
Difficult to administer (IV) |
Muscle (IM) |
Insulin (SQ) |
As much as 100% bioavailability |
Large gauge needles required (depot implant) |
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Hormones (Depot) |
Lower burst release (depot implants) |
Immunotoxicity (IV) |
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Hydrogels |
Avoids reconstitution and/or suspension (depot implants) |
Liver toxicity (IV) |
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Nanoparticles |
Oral |
High patient compliance |
Low bioavailability |
Systemic |
Liquid medications |
Ease of use |
Variable absorption |
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Capsules |
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Lack of targeted systems |
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Pills |
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Degradation of drug in stomach and liver |
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Hydrogels |
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Variable adsorption in presence of food |
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Nanoparticles |
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Not amenable for macromolecule delivery |
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Microparticles |
Transdermal |
Painless administration |
Low bioavailability |
Systemic |
Patches |
Sustained and controlled release |
Expensive |
Skin |
Microneedles |
Active control of continuing and discontinuing administration |
Materials can be large, bulky |
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Creams |
Reduced side effects |
Variable absorption |
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Nanoparticles |
High patient compliance |
Incorrect dosages can be applied for some materials (creams) |
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Hydrogels |
Pulmonary (i.e., inhalation) |
Ease of use |
Administration devices are large, bulky |
Lungs |
Aerosols |
High bioavailability |
Inconsistent delivery due to variation in patient technique |
Systemic |
Dry powders |
Rapid absoprtion and systemic uptake |
Local lung toxicity and immunogenicity |
Brain |
Nanoparticles |
Direct access to lungs |
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Microparticles |
Surgical implantation |
Direct access to a range of diseased tissues |
Potential infection due to surgery |
Local, to a range of diseased tissues |
Polymer implants |
Reduced off target toxicity |
Foreign body response and rejection |
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Microparticles |
Requires surgical intervention |
Materials can be large, bulky |
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Hydrogels |
Potentially requires anaesthetics |
Potentially requires immunosuppressing drugs |
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Time, cost, labor burden of procedure |
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Mucosal routes: vaginal, nasal, buccal |
Ease of use |
Low bioavailability |
Systemic |
Films |
Noninvasive |
Variable absorption |
Brain (nasal) |
Sprays |
Self administerable |
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Local |
Gels |
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Nervous system (nasal) |
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Ocular: topical and injections |
High patient compliance (topical) |
High tear dilution and turnover rate (topical) |
Eye |
Eye drops |
Noninvasive (topical) |
Cornea acts as significant barrier (topical) |
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Injections |
Self administerable (topical) |
Toxicity due to high dosages (topical, injection) |
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Hydrogels |
Direct delivery to retina (injection) |
Retinal detachment, hemorrage, cataract (injection) |
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Sustained drug levels (injection) |
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