Surface Activation Strategies to Enhance Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Biopharmaceutical Drugs: A Narrative Review
Keywords:
surface activation, oral bioavailability, nanotechnology, solubility enhancement, permeability improvementAbstract
Surface activation has emerged as a promising strategy for improving the oral performance of drugs with poor biopharmaceutical properties. Many oral drugs face limitations in solubility, permeability, and stability in the gastrointestinal environment, which restrict their absorption and reduce therapeutic effectiveness. This review aims to summarize current approaches used to enhance oral bioavailability through surface modification of drug particles and delivery systems. A narrative methodology was used to examine studies involving conventional additives as well as advanced nanotechnology platforms. The findings show that surfactants, polymers, lipid-based excipients, and permeation enhancers can significantly increase solubility, dissolution rate, and epithelial transport. Nanotechnology approaches, including polymeric nanoparticles, nanocrystals, lipid nanocarriers, and stimuli-responsive systems, offer more precise control over particle behavior and demonstrate consistent improvements in permeability and gastrointestinal stability. Despite these advantages, challenges related to safety, long-term toxicity, and regulatory evaluation remain. Overall, the reviewed evidence indicates that surface activation represents an effective and adaptable approach for enhancing oral bioavailability and holds strong potential for future development of more efficient oral drug delivery systems.
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