Finding methods for improving efficiency and bioavailability is central to targeted drug delivery. While controlled release dosage medication forms are the norm, they can encounter many limitations. One disadvantage is the difficulty of locating and retaining the drug delivery system within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract due to gastric emptying variation. This can cause drug release that is insufficient for the patient or result in shorter residence time of the dosage in the stomach.
To increase gastric retention and improve drug absorption, hollow glass microspheres have been developed and applied in the clinical setting for certain patients. Porous-wall hollow glass microspheres used in medicine are often produced from biopolymers, ceramics, bioactive glasses, and silicates. Hollow glass microspheres feature a 10 to 100 micron-diameter hollow cavity for the containment of certain substances.
The most predominant mode for drug administration to the systemic circulation is the oral route. Some drugs have difficulty absorbing through the GI tract when using this route, prompting professionals to seek alternative methods for delivering pharmacologically active substances to the body.
The porous or hollow features of hollow glass microspheres offer the ability to encapsulate fragile drugs and provides protection from biological compounds that may interfere with drug availability. These spherical, empty particles can remain in the gastric region for long periods of time and extend residence time of drugs in the GI tract.
Porosity offers improved loading efficiency and helps control the release of medications. Overall, hollow glass microspheres improve bioavailability of a drug, thereby reducing drug waste.
Hollow glass microspheres can be produced to feature a uniform shape and size that can improve delivery of spheres to a specific target site. Additionally, hollow glass microspheres are an ideal candidate for carriers of therapeutic agents due to their porosity, large surface area, and volume.
The hollow center of the hollow glass microspheres reduces their density to such a degree that they have the potential to be buoyant. This behavior makes hollow glass microspheres suitable for use in a wide variety of applications.
This article comes from mo-sci edit released