Ayesha Khan*
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Khulna University, BangladeshReceived: 01-Mar-2025, Manuscript No. dd-25-171104; Editor Assigned: 04-Mar-2025, Pre QC No. dd-25- 171104; Reviewed: 15-Mar-2025, QC No. dd-25-171104; Revised: 20-Mar- 2025, Manuscript No. dd-25-171104; Published: 29-Mar-2025, DOI:10.4172/resrevdrugdeliv.9.1.004
Citation: Ayesha Khan, Localized Drug Delivery: Precision in Therapeutics. Res Rev Drug Deliv. 2025;9.005.
Copyright: © 2025 Ayesha Khan, this is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and sources are credited.
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Drug delivery is a critical aspect of therapeutic success, determining not only the effectiveness of a drug but also its safety and patient compliance. Conventional systemic administration methods, such as oral tablets or intravenous injections, often expose the entire body to drugs, leading to off-target effects and reduced efficiency. To address these limitations, localized drug delivery systems have emerged as an innovative approach that delivers therapeutic agents directly to the site of disease or injury. This strategy allows for higher local concentrations of drugs, minimizes systemic exposure, and improves overall treatment outcomes. Localized drug delivery has become particularly valuable in managing cancers, chronic pain, infections, and site-specific disorders [1].
Localized drug delivery systems are designed to deposit therapeutic agents exactly where they are needed, reducing unwanted side effects and increasing efficacy. Several techniques and platforms have been developed to achieve this, each tailored to specific diseases and conditions [2].
One widely used method is implantable drug delivery devices, which provide controlled release of drugs directly at the target site. For example, biodegradable implants used in cancer therapy can steadily release chemotherapeutic agents within a tumor, reducing systemic toxicity. Similarly, drug-eluting stents in cardiovascular diseases deliver anti-proliferative drugs to prevent restenosis after angioplasty [3].
Topical and transdermal systems also serve as localized delivery methods. Topical creams, gels, and ointments are applied directly to the skin to treat local infections, inflammation, or dermatological conditions. Transdermal patches, while often systemic, can be modified for site-specific delivery, such as in localized pain management.
Intra-articular injections represent another important application, particularly in treating joint-related diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. By directly injecting anti-inflammatory drugs into the affected joint, high local concentrations are achieved without systemic side effects associated with oral medications [4].
Localized delivery has also gained prominence in oncology, where intratumoral injections and localized nanoparticles are employed to concentrate therapeutic agents within tumors. This minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue while increasing tumor-killing efficiency [5].
An exciting frontier is stimuli-responsive localized systems, which release drugs in response to environmental triggers such as pH, temperature, or enzymes. For instance, hydrogels implanted in tumor tissue can be engineered to release drugs when exposed to specific tumor microenvironment conditions.
Localized drug delivery offers a promising pathway toward precision medicine by enabling site-specific treatment with reduced systemic toxicity and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. With applications ranging from cancer therapy and cardiovascular stents to dermatology and joint disease management, this approach is reshaping modern healthcare. Continued innovation in biomaterials, nanotechnology, and stimuli-responsive systems will further expand its potential. Although challenges in distribution, safety, and scalability remain, localized drug delivery stands as a powerful strategy to improve patient outcomes, making treatments safer, more efficient, and tailored to individual needs [6].
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