Delivery strategies and human routes of administration: a review

Abstract

One significant non-invasive method for delivering medicinal drugs both locally and systemically is the vaginal route. The vaginal route provides improved bioavailability for numerous medications due to its abundant vascularization, broad absorptive surface, and avoidance of first-pass metabolism. It is frequently used to treat hormone control, infections, contraception, and reproductive health. While sophisticated methods including mucoadhesive formulations, vaginal rings, nanoparticles, and in-situ gelling systems offer better retention, controlled release, and patient compliance, conventional dose forms include creams, gels, suppositories, and pills. While this approach has benefits including sustained delivery, ease of administration, and few systemic side effects, it also has drawbacks, such as absorption fluctuation becauseto hormonal and menstrual cycle fluctuations, leakage or messiness in semi-solid formulations, and possible excipient irritation. Therapeutic results may also be impacted by limitations in patient acceptance and dosage volume. Vaginal pH, epithelium thickness, microbiota, medication qualities, and formulation features are all factors that affect vaginal absorption. All things considered, vaginal medication delivery is still a flexible and developing discipline, with new technologies improving comfort, efficiency, and targeting for a variety of systemic and gynecological treatments.