The effectiveness of any drug is dependent on to various factors like drug solubility, bioavailability, selection of appropriate delivery system, and proper route of administration. The oral route for the delivery of drugs is undoubtedly the most convenient, safest and has been widely used from past few decades for the effective delivery of drugs. However, despite of the numerous advantages that oral route offers, it often suffers certain limitations like low bioavailability due to poor water solubility as well as poor permeability of drugs, degradation of the drug in the physiological pH of the stomach, hepatic first-pass metabolism, etc. The researchers have been continuously working extensively to surmount and address appropriately the inherent drawbacks of the oral drug delivery. The constant and continuous efforts have led to the development of lipid-based nano drug delivery system to overcome the aforesaid associated challenges of the oral delivery through lymphatic transportation. The use of lymphatic route has demonstrated its critical and crucial role in overcoming the problem associated and related to low bioavailability of poorly water-soluble and poorly permeable drugs by bypassing intestinal absorption and possible first-pass metabolism. The current review summarizes the bonafide perks of using the lipid-based nanocarriers for the delivery of drugs using the lymphatic route. The lipid-based nanocarriers seem to be a promising delivery system which can be optimized and further explored as an alternative to the conventional dosage forms for the enhancement of oral bioavailability of drugs, with better patient compliance, minimum side effect, and improved the overall quality of life.
Keywords: Lipid-based nanocarriers; bioavailability; lymphatic system; oral route.