The development of new drug carrier systems able to deliver drug to the target
site in time and at required dose and release manner represents a concept aiming to
improve pharmacokinetics of existing drugs, but also to enable introducing of new
therapeutic options including peptide, glycoprotein, oligonucleotide and gene therapy.
Research progress within the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology implies
great potential of colloidal drug delivery systems, witnessed also by the presence of
nanotherapeutics based on colloidal carriers in the global and EU pharmaceutical
market.
Assessment of in vitro drug release profile is essential in development and quality
control of colloidal drug delivery systems. However it represents a great challenge
considering the difficulties in separating the colloidal carrier from the release media
which needs to be assessed for the released drug content. Currently used methods for
in vitro release testing from these dosage forms are membrane dialysis methods, sample
and separate methods, continuous-flow methods and in situ methods, which are
herein presented discussing their advantages, disadvantages and limitations. Need for
further development of (standardized) methods for in vitro drug release assessment,
which would ideally enable the prediction of in vivo behaviour of the colloidal systems,
has also been highlighted
