Emerging nanocarrier systems for the enhanced delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to the intestine

This review explores the recent advancements in nanodelivery systems designed to improve intestinal delivery, focusing on inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC). It outlines the challenges associated with conventional drug therapies, including poor bioavailability, systemic side effects, and nonspecific targeting, which often limit therapeutic outcomes. Nanotechnology-based delivery platforms, such as lipid-based or polymeric nanoparticles, offer promising alternatives due to their ability to enhance drug stability, enable site-specific delivery, and reduce toxicity. It highlights how these nanosystems can be engineered to respond to the unique physiological and biochemical conditions of the inflamed gut, such as pH, enzymes, and reactive oxygen species. It also discusses various strategies to achieve active targeting through ligand–receptor interactions, thereby improving the precision of drug delivery to inflamed tissues. Despite the progress, the review notes that challenges remain in translating these technologies into clinical practice. Regulatory hurdles, manufacturing scalability, long-term safety, and the complexity of disease pathogenesis continue to pose significant obstacles. Overall, nanodelivery systems targeting the intestine represent a transformative approach with the potential to significantly improve IBD and CRC management, though further research and development are essential for clinical implementation.