Microspheres: Key Players in Targeted Drug Delivery and Controlled Release

Abstract

Over the past years, advanced drug delivery systems have become more prominent and crucial in pharmaceutical formulations. Traditional or conventional drug delivery systems have several drawbacks, such as the need for frequent dosing for certain drugs with short half-lives to maintain the desired therapeutic drug concentration in the bloodstream. This frequent dosing requirement leads to poor patient compliance and fluctuations in the drug's developing controlled drug delivery systems. Several methods exist for controlled drug delivery, including liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, phytosomes, microemulsion, and microspheres. Of these, microspheres are the most practical, as the drug is gradually released from the polymer matrix and the polymers used are generally biodegradable and have no adverse effects. Microspheres not only enhance the availability of drugs in the body, but also offer a way to deliver them to specific locations, thereby reducing unwanted effects and increasing the accuracy of treatment. This breakthrough has greatly advanced the development of innovative drug delivery methods, paving the way for more effective and efficient medical treatments. This review attempts to bring information on various types of microspheres, different methods of preparation, and its applications, various parameters to evaluate their efficiency and also current trends and future perspectives.