Volume :

4

Issue :

3

Abstract :

Recent drug discovery using advanced techniques such as genomics, combinatorial chemistry, high throughput screening and in silico three dimensional drug design has yielded drug candidates with low water solubility and thus an inherently low mucosal permeability which makes the development of pharmaceutical formulations difficult. To overcome these, particulate systems like microparticles have been used as a physical approach to alter and improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties of various types of drug molecules. They have been used in vivo to protect the drug entity in the systemic circulation, restrict access of the drug to the chosen sites and to deliver the drug at a controlled and sustained rate to the site of action. Various polymers have been used in the formulation of microparticles for drug delivery research to increase therapeutic benefit, while minimizing side effects. The review embraces various aspects of microparticle formulations, characterization, effect of their characteristics and their applications in delivery of drug molecules and therapeutic genes.