ABSTRACT:
The aim of writing this review on Chronopharmaceutic drug delivery systems (ChDDs) is to compile the recent literatures with special focus on oral ChDDs. ChDDs is the design and evaluation of drug delivery systems that release a bioactive agent at a rhythm that perfectly matches the biological requirement of a given disease therapy. ChDDs are gaining importance in the field of pharmaceutical technology as these systems reduced dosing frequency and toxicity. It also allows the drug effect to match body need in order to treat diseases. There is instantaneous drug level matching exact biological and physiological needs to manage the symptoms of the disease at each point in time. Finally, it enhances patient compliance and convenience. Some disease conditions wherein ChDDs are promising include duodenal ulcer, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, asthma, diabetes, neurological disorder. Some ChDDs currently in the market are also mentioned. This review also summarizes some recent technologies used in the formulation of oral ChDDs. These technologies include GeoClockTM, ContinTM, CodasTM, CeformTM, ChronsetTM, Diffucaps®, Egalet®, TIMERx®, Chronotherapeutic Oral Drug Absorption System (CODAS), Programmable Oral Release Technology (PORT) and finally Three Dimensional Printing (3DP) technology.