Targeting colon and kidney: Pathophysiological determinants of design strategy

Targeted drug delivery to an organ or tissue is intended to bring the drug to its primary site of action. Thus, it can help improve the efcacy of the drug or prevent its undesired toxicities in other tissues or organs. In addition, sometimes targeted strategies are intended to avoid drug exposure to a specic organ or tissue. This can help avoid specic drug-related toxicities, increase systemic exposure, and achieve higher concentration at the target site. Most targeted drug delivery systems involve the use of macromolecular or particulate carriers, with the aim of modifying the pharmacokinetics and cellular distribution of the drug. In addition to achieving higher drug concentrations and/or prolonged exposure within the target cells, strategies can be designed to target organelles or specic compartments within the target cells. The overall goal of all drug-targeting strategies is the improvement of the efcacy and/or safety prole of a drug substance.