Encapsulated drug

Encapsulated drug refers to a pharmaceutical formulation strategy where an active therapeutic agent is enclosed within a protective shell or carrier system, such as a liposome, nanoparticle, or micelle (Prime Scholars, 2024). This approach is primarily used to enhance the delivery of drugs that exhibit poor solubility, rapid clearance, or significant systemic toxicity in their free form (Taylor & Francis, 2015). By shielding the therapeutic payload from the biological environment and controlling its release kinetics, encapsulation can improve the therapeutic index and facilitate targeted delivery to specific tissues or cells (PMC, 2015). Common clinical examples include liposomal doxorubicin for cancer therapy and lipid nanoparticle-based mRNA vaccines (Wikipedia, 2024). Because the term 'encapsulated drug' describes a delivery modality rather than a specific biological molecule or receptor, it is not classified as a therapeutic target in molecular pharmacology.

Other names

Drug delivery systemLiposomal drugNanoparticle-encapsulated drugMicroencapsulated drugNanomedicineDrug carrier system

Encapsulation involves entrapping a therapeutic agent within a carrier vehicle such as a liposome or nanoparticle to protect the drug from proteolytic cleavage and immune recognition, thereby improving its stability and circulation time (Taylor & Francis, 2015). The mechanism of action typically relies on passive targeting via the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect in tumors, or active targeting through surface-conjugated ligands that bind specifically to cell-surface receptors (PMC, 2015; Wikipedia, 2024). Once at the destination site, the drug is released via diffusion or in response to specific stimuli (e.g., pH changes or enzymes) to interact with its intended biological target (MDPI, 2021).