A REVIEW ON THE PULSATILE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

Yousuf Hasan Khan* and Shahid Mohammed

ABSTRACT

Traditionally, the drugs are release in an immediate or extended fashion. However, in the recent years, the pulsatile drug release systems are increasing developing interest. This framework is designed for chronopharmacotherapy which are based on the circadian rhythm. The rationale for the employment of pulsatile release is for drugs where a constant drug release, i.e., zero-order release is not desired. Pulsatile drug delivery system (PDDS) is defined as the rapid and transient release of the certain amount of molecules within a short time period immediately after a predetermined off-release period, i.e., lag time. PDDS can be classified into the time controlled systems wherein the dug release is controlled primarily by the delivery systems; stimuli induced PDDS is in which release is controlled by the stimuli, like the pH or enzymes present in the intestinal tract or enzymes present in the drug delivery system and externally regulated system where release is programmed by external stimuli like magnetism, ultrasound, electrical effect and irradiation. Therefore, Pulsatile drug delivery is one such system that, by delivering the drug at the right time, right place and in the right amount, holds good promises of benefit to the patients suffering from chronic problems like arthritis, asthma, peptic ulcer, cardiovascular diseases, and hypercholesterolemia. Current review article focuses on the necessity of pulsatile drug delivery systems, types of the disease in which pulsatile release is required, classifications, evaluations, advantages, limitations and future aspects of the pulsatile drug delivery system.

Keywords: Pulsatile drug release, Circadian rhythm, Chronopharmacotherapy, Lag time, Time controlled systems.