ANALYSIS OF MODERN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CROHN'S DISEASE

Abstract

Crohn’s disease is a chronic relapsing inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, but most commonly involves the terminal ileum and colon. Despite the availability of conventional small‑molecule drugs and advanced biologics, long‑term disease control remains suboptimal for a large proportion of patients due in part to limited drug exposure at the sites of intestinal inflammation and systemic adverse effects. Modern drug delivery systems aim to improve the therapeutic index of established and emerging agents by enhancing colonic targeting, prolonging mucosal residence, and enabling local or cellularly specific delivery. A wide range of platforms has been investigated, including pH‑, time‑ and microbiota‑triggered oral formulations, nanocarriers, liposomes, hydrogels, and device‑based systems, many of which are tailored to the unique pathophysiology of Crohn’s disease, such as increased permeability, altered microbiota, and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species. This review summarizes current problems in drug delivery for Crohn’s disease and approaches to address them, analyzes existing and potential delivery systems, and discusses their relative advantages, limitations, and future perspectives.