Biological barriers and their impact on pharmaceutical drug delivery systems: an integrative review
Keywords:
Biological barriers, drug delivery, cell biology, nanoparticles, pharmacokineticsAbstract
The successful translation of pharmaceutical formulations into effective therapies is highly dependent on their interaction with biological systems. Biological barriers such as cellular membranes, enzymatic environments, mucus layers, and physiological clearance mechanisms significantly influence drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. This review integrates concepts from biology and pharmaceutics to examine how biological barriers affect drug delivery and how modern pharmaceutical strategies are designed to overcome these challenges. Special emphasis is placed on membrane transport, cellular uptake pathways, biological degradation, and the role of advanced drug delivery systems including nanoparticles, biologics, and targeted carriers. Understanding these biological–pharmaceutical interactions is essential for the rational design of safer and more effective therapeutic systems.
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