Pulsatile Drug Delivery: Harmonizing Therapeutics With The Body’s Clock

Abstract

Circadian rhythms govern critical physiological functions, influencing disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. Pulsatile Drug Delivery Systems (PDDS) have emerged as a groundbreaking approach in drug delivery, releasing therapeutic agents in a time-aligned manner to match the body's inherent rhythms. This review explores the mechanistic basis, classification, and applications of PDDS, including time-controlled, stimuli-responsive, and osmotic systems. Special focus is given to aligning drug delivery with circadian oscillations in diseases such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Recent research into enzyme, pH, glucose, and temperature-responsive platforms is discussed, highlighting clinical potential and translational barriers. This paper underscores the role of PDDS in optimizing drug efficacy, minimizing toxicity, and advancing circadian-based pharmacotherapy