Targeting of drugs and vaccines to the gut

Targeted delivery to the gastrointestinal tract requires a multi-disciplinary approach to research involving contributions from polymer and material scientists, gastroenterologists, pharmaceutical scientists and technolgists. Intestinal delivery is important not only for drugs that act locally, but also for those with systemic activity. In particular, there is considerable interest in the oral delivery of peptides and it is felt that the colon may provide an advantageous absorption site for such molecules. The different targeting mechanisms available to the pharmaceutical scientist to provide site-specific delivery in the gastrointestinal tract will be critically assessed. Delivery systems and targeting agents, which are being developed for the delivery of drugs, may also be explited for the delivery of vaccines, since many of the delivery problems are common to both areas. Recent developments in the design of oral antigen formulations will be discussed in this review.