An overview of Chrono-pharmaceuticals drug delivery systems: Recent advances

Abstract

Chrono-pharmaceutics includes pharmaceutical application of “Chronobiology” in drug delivery. Chronobiology is the study of biological rhythms and their responses to other metabolic functions of body. Diseases such as bronchial asthma, hyper-cholestremia, ulcer, diabetes, arthritis, myocardial infraction, angina and hypertension show symptomatic changes due to circadian rhythmicity. The chronobiology, chronopharmacology and chronotherapeutics of pain have been extensively reviewed. For instance, there is a circadian rhythm in the plasma concentration of C - reactive protein and interleukin-6 of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, level of C – reactive protein increases early morning leading to enhanced pain and inflammation. Chronotherapy for all forms of arthritis using NSAIDs should be timed to ensure that the highest blood levels of the drug coincide with peak pain. Circadian rhythms of behavior in mammals are known to be robust and precise. Also several drugs cause alterations to 24 hours rhythms leading to illness and altered homeostatic regulation. Alteration in biological rhythm is also a novel concept of adverse effects, which can be minimized by optimizing the dosing schedule.

Key words: Chronobiology, chronopharmacology, chronotherapeutics.