Drugloaded

Drugloaded is an adjective used in pharmacology and materials science to describe a material, formulation, or device that contains an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) incorporated within it. The term helps distinguish the carrier or matrix from free drug and indicates a defined amount of therapeutic molecule is present in the system.

Drug-loaded systems are central to many modern delivery strategies. Common carriers include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, solid nanoparticles, microspheres, hydrogels, implants, films, and surface coatings. When the API is integrated into these carriers, it can achieve controlled or targeted release, improved stability, and altered biodistribution, potentially enhancing efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Applications span cancer therapy, ocular and transdermal delivery, infectious disease treatment, and the development of drug-eluting medical devices.

Loading methods describe how the API is incorporated into the carrier. They include physical encapsulation through diffusion or solvent evaporation, adsorption onto surfaces or within pores, and covalent conjugation to the carrier for specific release profiles. The choice of method influences release kinetics, stability, and bioavailability.

Key metrics used to characterize drug-loaded systems include loading efficiency (the fraction of API successfully loaded relative to the starting amount), drug loading or loading capacity (amount of API per carrier mass), and encapsulation efficiency. Evaluation typically involves in vitro release studies, stability testing, and analytical methods such as HPLC or spectroscopic assays, followed by pharmacokinetic or therapeutic efficacy assessments in vivo.