Pharmaceutics & Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Drug Targeting and Design

Drug targeting and design are critical aspects of modern pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, aimed at improving the efficacy and safety of therapeutic agents. The objective is to develop drugs that can precisely interact with specific biological targets and deliver their therapeutic effects directly to the site of action, minimizing side effects and maximizing therapeutic outcomes. Identification of specific proteins, enzymes, receptors, or genes that play a crucial role in disease progression. Targets must be accessible, specific to the disease, and have a known structure and function. Techniques such as RNA interference (RNAi), CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, and knockout models are used to validate the relevance of the target in disease pathology. Utilizes the three-dimensional structure of a biological target to design molecules that can specifically bind to it. Techniques such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy are employed to determine target structures.