Abstract

IONIC LIQUIDS AS MULTI-FUNCTIONAL EXCIPIENTS IN ORAL-CONTROLLED RELEASE DRUG DELIVERY: ADVANCEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

P. Harini*, B. Nagamani, P. Uma Devi and M. Gayatri Devi

ABSTRACT

Ionic liquids (ILs) are salts that are liquid at or near room temperature, have garnered significant attention in the pharmaceutical sciences due to their extraordinary physicochemical properties and versatile applications. In the realm of oral-controlled release drug delivery systems, ILs function as multifunctional excipients capable of addressing fundamental challenges such as poor aqueous solubility, limited membrane permeability, drug instability, and unfavourable pharmacokinetic profiles. This review comprehensively explores the advancement of ILs in pharmaceutical formulation, with a particular focus on their classification, tunable salvation and hydrogen bonding capabilities, ionic conductivity, pH responsiveness, and interactions with biological membranes. ILs facilitate the delivery of both small hydrophobic molecules and large biologics, including monoclonal antibodies and insulin, by enhancing their stability and absorption across the gastrointestinal tract. The utility of ILs in matrix-based and lipid-based drug delivery systems is also highlighted, demonstrating their role in enabling sustained release, increasing drug load capacity, and improving in vivo bioavailability. This article presents a balanced overview of both the opportunities and limitations of ILs in oral drug delivery, offering insights into ongoing research and future directions for their safe and effective application in modern therapeutics.

Keywords: Ionic liquids, Permeability, Solubility, Controlled release, Sustainability.