Abstract

Conventional oral dosage forms such as immediate-release tablets and capsules have long been the cornerstone of pharmaceutical therapy due to their ease of administration, patient compliance, and cost-effectiveness. However, these traditional formulations face significant limitations including poor bioavailability of lipophilic compounds, rapid hepatic metabolism, narrow absorption windows, dose-dependent toxicity, and the inability to maintain therapeutic drug concentrations over extended periods. This article aims to comprehensively review recent innovations in oral drug delivery systems that address these challenges through advanced formulation strategies and materials science. Key technological advancements include controlled and modified release platforms utilizing biodegradable polymers, gastroretentive systems that prolong residence time in the upper gastrointestinal tract, mucoadhesive formulations, lipid-based delivery systems including self-emulsifying formulations that enhance solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs, amorphous solid dispersions that improve dissolution kinetics, co-crystals with enhanced physicochemical properties, nanoparticulate carriers for targeted delivery, and permeability enhancement strategies employing novel excipients and absorption enhancers. These innovations have demonstrated substantial improvements in oral bioavailability, reduced dosing frequency, minimized adverse effects, and enhanced patient adherence to therapeutic regimens. The integration of patient-centric design principles with advanced materials has accelerated clinical translation of these technologies. Future directions encompass personalized oral delivery systems guided by pharmacogenomics and artificial intelligence, stimuli-responsive smart polymers, three-dimensional printed dosage forms with tailored release profiles, and next-generation biomaterials that enable oral delivery of biologics and macromolecules previously restricted to parenteral administration.