ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION The success of protein and peptide therapeutics is revolutionizing the biotech and pharmaceutical market, spurring the creation of next-generation products with reduced immunogenicity, improved safety, and greater effectiveness. Endogenous proteins and peptides play an important role in the regulation and integration of life processes and act with high specificity and potency (1). Because of the rapid progress in biotechnology, as well as in gene technology, the industry is capable of producing a large number of potential therapeutic peptides and proteins in commercial quantities. Despite this remarkable success, protein and peptide drugs continue to suffer from drawbacks, particularly in regard to their mode of delivery, which is primarily by injection. Improvements in protein andpeptide drugdelivery using less invasive or noninvasive approaches would increase patient compliance and expand many drug market opportunities. In addition, some new formulations may be patentable and can be used to extend the life cycle management of a drug. For these reasons, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are researching and developing new delivery methods for protein and peptide drugs (2).
