ABSTRACT
The enteric system has been specifically designed for the uptake of foreign substances to maintain homeostasis in the body. Despite the extensive research and success stories with other routes for drug delivery, the oral route is still the most preferred route because of its basic functionality and the advantages that ensue. Nanoparticles (NPs) also have been extensively studied for peroral drug delivery, for systemic effect following uptake from the enteron, or to act locally in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). NPs are expected to address some
specific issues for drug delivery like low mucosal permeability, absorption windows, low solubility of the drug and gut metabolism, and first pass effect. The potential advantages of NPs as oral drug carriers are enhancement of bioavailability, delivery of vaccine antigens to the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT),controlledrelease,andreductionof thegastrointestinal irritation caused by drugs (1).
