Title:Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) as a Vehicle for Drug Delivery
Volume: 25
Issue: 5
Author(s): Hossamaldeen Bakrey, Riya Shivgotra, Abdulkadir Abdu, Bindu Soni, Navid Reza Shahtaghia, Subheet Kumar Jain*Shubham Thakur
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, 143005, India
- Centre for
Basic and Translational Research in Health Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 143005, India
Keywords:
Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), drug delivery, formulation, biocompatibility, stability, malnutrition.
Abstract: Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) is a method of providing nutrients directly into the
bloodstream for individuals who are unable to meet their nutritional needs through the normal digestive
process or gastrointestinal system. It provides macronutrients and micronutrients in a single
container, reducing handling and contamination risks and making it more cost-effective. TPN
has the potential to be used as a drug delivery system, with applications in combination therapies,
personalized medicine, and integrating advanced technologies. It can enhance drug dosage precision
and provide nutritional assistance, potentially reducing hospitalization and improving patient
outcomes. However, implementing new applications requires thorough testing and regulatory approval.
TPN could be particularly useful in pediatric and geriatric care and could also contribute
to global health by combating malnutrition in areas with limited medical resources. Healthcare professionals
prepare a sterile solution tailored to each patient's nutritional needs, and administration
involves a central venous catheter. However, the simultaneous administration of medications with
PN admixtures can result in pharmacological incompatibility, which can impact the stability of the
oil-in-water system. The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism and the American
Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition recommendations advise against including non-nutrient
drugs in PN admixtures due to safety concerns. This review focuses on the utilization of Total
Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) as a method for delivering drugs. It discusses the benefits and difficulties
associated with its commercial application and offers suggestions for future research endeavors.