Application and use of Inulin as a tool for therapeutic drug delivery

Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev. 2012:28:33-45. doi: 10.5661/bger-28-33.

Abstract

Inulin is a polysaccharide with an extensive range of therapeutic uses such as a vehicle in drug delivery vehicle, as a diagnostic/analytical tool or as a dietary fibre with additional health benefits. In the main, much research has focussed on inulin as a drug delivery carrier for colon-targeted drug delivery. The justification for this is its potential to survive the stomach's acidic environment. This unique stability and strength is utilized in many ways to deliver drugs safely to colon, where they can be easily absorbed through the gut epithelium into the blood. Inulin based hydrodynamic research will be useful to discover the potential of inulin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Colon / metabolism
  • Dietary Fiber / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Drug Administration Routes
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Inulin / administration & dosage*
  • Inulin / chemistry*
  • Inulin / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Dietary Fiber
  • Inulin