Oral Nano Medicine Bio Interaction in the Gastro Intstestinal Tract in Health And Diseases : A Review

Authors: Ajay Kumar, Ajit Kumar, Akash Gautam, Dr. Nakul Gupta, Ms. Anamika Kulshrestha

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2025.74654

Abstract

Oral nanomedicines are emerging as a significant advancement in drug delivery, aiming to overcome the complex barriers of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and improve therapeutic outcomes. The GIT presents challenges such as variable pH, mucus layers, digestive enzymes, epithelial barriers, microbiota, and immune defenses, which limit the effectiveness of conventional oral drugs. Nanoparticles with customized physicochemical properties offer enhanced mucus penetration, targeted cellular uptake, specific interaction with gut microbiota, and modulation of immune responses. This review examines various oral nanomedicine systems—including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and dendrimers—focusing on their mechanisms of interaction within healthy and diseased GIT conditions. It also discusses recent preclinical studies, clinical trials, and approved formulations, highlighting advances in translational research. Understanding these biointeractions is vital for designing future oral nanomedicines to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, infections, ulcers, and cancers. Continuous innovation in nanocarrier technology promises improved drug stability, targeted delivery, enhanced bioavailability, and better patient outcomes in gastrointestinal therapeutics.

Introduction

Oral nanomedicine employs nanoparticles as advanced carriers to improve drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), overcoming challenges such as acidic conditions, digestive enzymes, mucus barriers, and limited absorption. Nanoparticles can be engineered for targeted delivery, sustained release, mucoadhesion, and mucus penetration, enhancing bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. The GIT’s complex physiology—including pH gradients, enzymatic activity, mucus layers, and microbiota—affects nanoparticle behavior, with disease conditions (e.g., IBD, ulcers, infections, cancers) altering barriers, permeability, and immune responses, creating both challenges and opportunities for tailored therapies. Common nanoparticle types include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, solid lipid nanoparticles, and dendrimers, each with unique interactions, advantages, and limitations. Mechanisms such as endocytosis, surface modification, and mucus penetration strategies optimize delivery, retention, and site-specific drug release, highlighting the importance of designing nanomedicines adapted to both healthy and diseased GIT environments.

Conclusion

Oral nanomedicine offers a novel and promising strategy to overcome the complex physiological and pathological barriers of the gastrointestinal tract. By engineering nanoparticles with specific properties, oral formulations can efficiently cross mucus layers, improve cellular uptake through various mechanisms, engage positively with gut microbiota, and modulate immune responses. These interactions enhance drug stability, enable targeted delivery, allow controlled release, and reduce systemic side effects, resulting in better therapeutic outcomes for gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, infections, ulcers, and cancer. Preclinical research using in vitro models and animal studies has shown notable improvements in drug absorption and targeted site delivery. Early clinical trials support the potential of these approaches, with several formulations advancing toward regulatory approval. Despite these advances, challenges such as variability in disease states, nanoparticle safety, and scalable manufacturing remain. Continued collaboration across nanotechnology, pharmacology, and clinicalg research is essential to refine these platforms. Strategically designed oral nanomedicines hold great promise for transforming gastrointestinal therapy, offering safer, more effective, and patient-friendly treatments that can improve global healthcare outcomes.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ajay Kumar, Ajit Kumar, Akash Gautam, Dr. Nakul Gupta, Ms. Anamika Kulshrestha. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Paper Id : IJRASET74654

Publish Date : 2025-10-16

ISSN : 2321-9653

Publisher Name : IJRASET

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