Due to a rapid development in biotechnology more and more macromolecular drugs such as therapeutic peptides, oligosaccharides and nucleic acids are entering the pharmaceutical arena representing unprecedented challenges from the drug delivery point of view. One of the likely greatest challenges is their oral administration presenting a series of attractive advantages. Oral Delivery of Macromolecular Drugs addresses the most critical issues for a successful oral delivery of macromolecular drugs by a detailed characterisation of the 'enemy's strength' which is mainly based on the enzymatic barrier, the mucus gel barrier and the absorption barrier. Each of these barriers is described in detail in separate chapters by leading scientists in the field. The higher the knowledge about these barriers, the more potent oral macromolecular delivery systems can be generated. In the second part of this volume an overview on the likely most promising strategies to overcome these barriers is provided. Each of these strategies is described in detail in chapters being authored by worldwide academic and industrial experts. These strategies include the use of auxiliary agents such as polymeric and low molecular mass permeation enhancers, efflux pump inhibitors and enzyme inhibitors. Furthermore, these strategies are based on delivery systems such as liposomal formulations and micro- and nanoparticles. Oral Delivery of Macromolecular Drugs provides also an overview on special topics in oral macromolecular drug delivery such as oral immunization and gene delivery. Each of these chapters benefits from the results of various in vivo studies demonstrating the potential of discussed delivery systems.

"Recent and rapid progress in the field of biotechnology has resulted in an increasing number of novel macromolecular drugs with great promise for further advanced research and clinical application. However, the delivery of these macromolecular drugs by routes other than the parenteral route is difficult. The pipeline of macromolecular drugs derived from biotechnology presents a challenging opportunity to develop practical dosage forms that could be dosed via the oral route. Given this, the successful oral delivery of macromolecular drugs presents an enormous opportunity. Oral Delivery of Macromolecular Drugs will provide an overview of the innovative oral delivery technologies that have demonstrated success in human testing and will go on to cite the challenges, strategies, and future trends that are to be expected."

Enzymatic Barrier.- Gastrointestinal Mucus Gel Barrier.- The Absorption Barrier.- Strategies to Overcome the Enzymatic Barrier.- Low Molecular Mass Permeation Enhancers in Oraldelivery of Macromolecular Drugs.- Polymeric Permeation Enhancers.- Strategies to Overcome Efflux Pumps.- Multifunctional Polymeric Excipients in Oral Macromolecular Drug Delivery.- Nano- and Microparticles in Oral Delivery of Macromolecular Drugs.- Liposome-based Mucoadhesive Formulations for Oral Delivery of Macromolecules.- Strategies in Oral Immunization.- Oral Delivery of Nucleic Acid Drugs.