Ai in Therapeutic Targeting: Redefining Drug Delivery through Smart Systems

  • Majji Murali Krishna KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Umme Kulsum KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Arshiya Aqsa Syed KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Challa Maruthi Santhosh KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • A. Suneetha KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
  • Patibandla Jahnavi KVSR Siddartha College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Abstract

The fusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with modern drug delivery systems marks a pivotal shift in the way therapeutics are designed, administered, and monitored. Traditional drug delivery platforms have long struggled with issues like off-target effects, variable bioavailability, and poor patient adherence. Smart drug delivery systems aim to overcome these limitations by responding to internal or external physiological stimuli—offering precise, targeted, and often self-regulated release of medications. When integrated with AI, these systems gain further intelligence: enabling real-time decision-making, predicting release kinetics, optimizing formulations, and personalizing dosing strategies. This review explores the evolving landscape of AI-assisted smart drug delivery systems, highlighting how machine learning, deep learning, and predictive analytics are redefining the design and deployment of nanocarriers, wearable devices, and hybrid platforms. Special focus is given to AI’s role in material selection, pharmacogenomics, patient stratification, and theranostics. We also address critical challenges related to data privacy, regulatory ambiguity, algorithmic transparency, and ethical accountability. Moreover, emerging opportunities such as digital twins, closed-loop systems, and open-source AI platforms are discussed for their transformative potential. Together, AI and smart delivery platforms offer a promising vision of personalized, adaptive, and data-driven healthcare. As innovation continues to bridge computation with clinical application, the next generation of therapeutics may be as intelligent as they are effective—heralding a future where precision medicine is not just ideal, but inevitable.

Keywords: Smart drug delivery systems, Artificial intelligence, Precision targeting, Pharmacogenomics, Theranostics, Nanocarriers, Personalized medicine, AI-enabled dosing, Deep learning, Closed-loop systems

References

1. Langer R. Drug delivery and targeting. Nature. 1998;392(6679 Suppl):5–10.
2. Park K. Controlled drug delivery systems: past forward and future back. J Control Release. 2014;190:3–8.
3. Zhang L, Gu FX, Chan JM, Wang AZ, Langer RS, Farokhzad OC. Nanoparticles in medicine: therapeutic applications and developments. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2008;83(5):761–9.
4. Torchilin VP. Multifunctional, stimuli-sensitive nanoparticulate systems for drug delivery. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2014;13(11):813–27.
5. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–87.
6. Allen TM, Cullis PR. Liposomal drug delivery systems: from concept to clinical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2013;65(1):36–48.
7. De Jong WH, Borm PJ. Drug delivery and nanoparticles: applications and hazards. Int J Nanomedicine. 2008;3(2):133–49.
8. Makadia HK, Siegel SJ. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) as biodegradable controlled drug delivery carrier. Polymers. 2011;3(3):1377–97.
9. Gao W, Thamphiwatana S, Angsantikul P, Zhang L. Nanoparticle approaches against bacterial infections. Wiley Interdiscip Rev NanomedNanobiotechnol. 2014;6(6):532–47.
10. Peppas NA, Langer R. New challenges in biomaterials. Science. 1994;263(5154):1715–20.
11. Yu M, Wu J, Shi J, Farokhzad OC. Nanotechnology for protein delivery: overview and perspectives. J Control Release. 2016;240:24–37.
12. Mohanraj VJ, Chen Y. Nanoparticles – a review. Trop J Pharm Res. 2006;5(1):561–73.
13. Boehm K, McCracken N, Dew K. Theranostics: merging imaging and therapy. Radiol Technol. 2017;89(2):127–40.
14. Lee JH, Yigit MV, Mazumdar D, Lu Y. Molecular diagnostic and drug delivery agents based on aptamer-nanomaterial conjugates. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2010;62(6):592–605.
15. De M, Ghosh PS, Rotello VM. Applications of nanoparticles in biology. Adv Mater. 2008;20(22):4225–31.
16. Yang G, Phua SZF, Bindra AK, Zhao Y. Degradability and clearance of inorganic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Adv Mater. 2019;31(10):e1805730.
17. Kim J, Park JY, Lee SB. Applications of smart nanomaterials in drug delivery and diagnostics. Adv Mater. 2020;32(15):e1804827.
18. Obermeyer AC, Swager TM. Functional materials for biomedical applications: smart design for targeted therapy. Acc Chem Res. 2017;50(4):822–30.
19. Topol EJ. High-performance medicine: the convergence of human and artificial intelligence. Nat Med. 2019;25(1):44–56.
20. Esteva A, Robicquet A, Ramsundar B, Kuleshov V, DePristo M, Chou K, et al. A guide to deep learning in healthcare. Nat Med. 2019;25(1):24–9.
21. Jiang F, Jiang Y, Zhi H, Dong Y, Li H, Ma S, et al. Artificial intelligence in healthcare: past, present and future. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2017;2(4):230–43.
22. Ching T, Himmelstein DS, Beaulieu-Jones BK, Kalinin AA, Do BT, Way GP, et al. Opportunities and obstacles for deep learning in biology and medicine. J R Soc Interface. 2018;15(141):20170387.
23. Bibault JE, Giraud P, Burgun A. Big data and machine learning in radiation oncology: state of the art and future prospects. Cancer Lett. 2016;382(1):110–7.
24. Rajkomar A, Dean J, Kohane I. Machine learning in medicine. N Engl J Med. 2019;380(14):1347–58.
25. Raghupathi W, Raghupathi V. Big data analytics in healthcare: promise and potential. Health Inf Sci Syst. 2014;2(1):3.
26. Zhou LQ, Wang JY, Yu SY, Wu GG, Wei Q, Deng YB, et al. Artificial intelligence in medical imaging of the liver. World J Gastroenterol. 2019;25(6):672–82.
27. Nour M, Caggiano V, Alqudah AM, Sacco E. AI applications for drug discovery and precision medicine. ComputBiol Med. 2021;133:104365.
28. Gao Y, Zhan M, Chen Y, Li G, Wang J. Intelligent nanocarriers for controlled drug delivery in cancer therapy. J Nanobiotechnology. 2022;20(1):30.
29. Zhang Y, Tang L, Zhang L, Hou M, Li Y. Advances in smart biomaterials for personalized drug delivery. J Mater Chem B. 2021;9(15):3100–14.
30. Subramanian S, Simonovsky M, Bujold KE, Tzeng SY, Green JJ. Artificial intelligence in the design of nanomedicine. Nat Rev Mater. 2022;7(5):328–41.
31. Sarker IH. AI-based modeling for COVID-19 pandemic prediction and response: challenges, opportunities, and future directions. J Biomed Inform. 2021;122:103996.
Statistics
131 Views | 67 Downloads
How to Cite
Majji, M. K., Umme, K., Arshiya, A. S., Challa, M. S., A, S., & Patibandla, J. (2025). Ai in Therapeutic Targeting: Redefining Drug Delivery through Smart Systems. Journal of Integral Sciences, 8(2), 24-29. https://doi.org/10.37022/jis.v8i2.107
Section
Review Article(s)