PULSATILE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM: A MECHANISTIC UPDATE

Pulsatile drug delivery systems are the systems which deliver the drug according to the circadian rhythm of the body. The product follows a sigmoidal drug release profile characterized by a time period of no release (lag time) followed by a rapid and complete drug release. Thus, these systems deliver the drug at the right site of action at the right time and in the right amount, thus providing spatial and temporal delivery and increasing patient compliance. Various capsular, osmotic, single and multiple unit systems that are modulated by soluble or erodible polymer coatings, rupturable membranes are available in the market. Chronotherapeutics have been used for number of diseases like asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, hypotension, ulcer, hypercholesterolemia etc. These are beneficial for diseases showing chronopharmacological behaviour where night time dosing is required and for drugs having high first pass effect or having site specific absorption in gastrointestinal tract or drugs having high risk of toxicity or tolerance. Keywords: Pulsatile, circadian rhythm, chronotherapeutics, hypercholesterolemia, chronopharmacological behaviour