Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (593 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Systems for the delivery of drugs to target sites of pharmacological actions. Technologies employed include those concerning drug preparation, route of administration, site targeting, metabolism, and toxicity.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Delivery System, Drug; Delivery Systems, Drug; Drug Delivery System; System, Drug Delivery; Systems, Drug Delivery; Drug Targeting; Drug Targetings; Targeting, Drug.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Drug Therapy
- Narrower topics
- Abuse-Deterrent Formulations; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Insulin Infusion Systems; Microneedle Drug Delivery; Pharmaceutical Vehicles; Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy
- See also
- Dosage Forms; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Carriers
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 197,542 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Drug Delivery Systems” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 55,160 of them (27.9%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 81,439 records.
Reviews account for 44,447 records (22.5%) and meta-analyses for 475. Randomized controlled trials number 7,926 (4.0%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 23,508 |
| 2000-2009 | 37,435 |
| 2010-2019 | 81,439 |
| 2020 onward | 55,160 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 44,447 | 22.5% |
| Meta-analyses | 475 | 0.2% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 7,926 | 4.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Drug Delivery Systems"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in pharmacology
Drug evidence builds in layers: laboratory pharmacology describes how a compound acts, pharmacokinetic studies describe how the body handles it, and randomized trials test whether it helps and what harms it causes. Post-marketing surveillance and observational studies reveal rarer adverse effects but cannot prove causation. This page is educational and is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any medicine; decisions about treatment belong with a qualified clinician.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Deoxyglucose Dendrimer-Enabled Niclosamide Delivery to FRβ-Expressing Macrophages Alleviates Endometriosis Progression and Associated Hyperalgesia | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42670248 · DOI · PMC13650810 |
| Extended Use of the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: 12-Month Extension of a Randomized Controlled Trial | 2026 | Randomized controlled trial Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42671087 · DOI · PMC13528233 |
| Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of a Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System With an Adaptive Control Algorithm (APGO) in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Multicentre Observational Study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42488981 · DOI · PMC13538724 |
2-Deoxyglucose Dendrimer-Enabled Niclosamide Delivery to FRβ-Expressing Macrophages Alleviates Endometriosis Progression and Associated Hyperalgesia [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Endometriosis (EuE) is a chronic, incurable disease.
- Closing excerpt
- Together, these findings establish FRβ+ macrophages as a potential target in EuE and present FA-2DG-D-Niclo as a nonhormonal, macrophage-focused nanomedicine for precise and effective endometriosis treatment.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (195 words)
Endometriosis (EuE) is a chronic, incurable disease. Due to limited efficacy, high recurrence rates, and serious side effects of current treatments, development of new, targeted, nonhormonal therapies is urgently needed. We previously reported that niclosamide, an FDA-approved anthelmintic drug, attenuates endometriotic lesion growth. We further identified folate receptor-β (FRβ)-positive macrophages as contributors to disease progression. Significantly, niclosamide inhibits FRβ+ macrophages and reduces inflammation, innervation, and angiogenesis. To develop niclosamide as a nonhormonal and selective immune cell-targeted therapy for EuE, we engineered a folic acid (FA)-conjugated 2-deoxyglucose dendrimer (FA-2DG-D) using click chemistry to enable selective FRβ-mediated uptake. Conjugation of niclosamide to FA-2DG-D yielded a targeted nanotherapeutic (FA-2DG-D-Niclo) with enhanced aqueous solubility, controlled intracellular release, and excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility. In a mouse model of EuE, FA-2DG-D demonstrated lesion-specific accumulation and selective internalization by FRβ+ macrophages with minimal off-target organ retention. A single intraperitoneal dose of FA-2DG-D-Niclo (25 or 50 mg/kg/bw of niclosamide) significantly reduced FRβ+ macrophage burden, suppressed lesion number and volume, and markedly improved EuE-associated hyperalgesia at 2 weeks post-treatment. Together, these findings establish FRβ+ macrophages as a potential target in EuE and present FA-2DG-D-Niclo as a nonhormonal, macrophage-focused nanomedicine for precise and effective endometriosis treatment.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42670248 · DOI · PMC13650810
Extended Use of the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: 12-Month Extension of a Randomized Controlled Trial [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundThe Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) System is safe and effective for individuals managing Type 1 diabetes (T1D).
- Closing excerpt
- gov NCT05409131.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (177 words)
BackgroundThe Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) System is safe and effective for individuals managing Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Longer-term studies may provide additional evidence of sustained effectiveness and safety of AID system use in T1D.MethodsThis 12-month extension study was conducted following a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) where participants used either AID (Omnipod 5) or standard therapy (current non-automated pump therapy) for 13 weeks. Participants in France (n = 76) could transition to or continue with AID for an additional 12 months. Glycemic, safety, and psychosocial outcomes during or at the end of the extension phase were compared with baseline or end of RCT, as appropriate.ResultsSeventy-five participants enrolled in the extension phase. From RCT baseline to the end of the extension phase, time in range 70-180 mg/dL increased by 17.9% (p 180 mg/dL and mean sensor glucose decreased by 17.7% and 27.8 mg/dL (both p ConclusionsFindings support the RCT results, demonstrating safety and sustained improvements in glycemic and psychosocial outcomes with the Omnipod 5 System in adults in France with T1D over 12 months.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05409131.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42671087 · DOI · PMC13528233
Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of a Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System With an Adaptive Control Algorithm (APGO) in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Multicentre Observational Study [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimAutomated insulin delivery (AID) systems improve glycaemic outcomes in Type 1 diabetes; however, paediatric real-world data on newly introduced tubeless AID systems remain limited.
- Closing excerpt
- gov: NCT07425912.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (221 words)
AimAutomated insulin delivery (AID) systems improve glycaemic outcomes in Type 1 diabetes; however, paediatric real-world data on newly introduced tubeless AID systems remain limited. We aimed to provide the first clinical evaluation of the A8 TouchCare Nano AID system with the APGO algorithm in children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.Materials and methodsIn this prospective observational study, children and adolescents initiating TouchCare Nano AID therapy were followed for 6 months. Continuous glucose monitoring metrics were assessed at baseline and 1, 3 and 6 months. The primary outcome was change in time in range (TIR, 70-180 mg/dL). Secondary outcomes included time in tight range (TiTR, 70-140 mg/dL), time above and below range, glucose variability, insulin dose, achievement of ISPAD glycaemic targets and safety. HbA1c was measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months.ResultsSeventy-six participants (mean age 13.3 ± 3.2 years) completed follow-up. Mean TIR increased from 59.0% ± 15.6% at baseline to 74.2% ± 8.9% at 1 month and remained significantly higher at 3 and 6 months (all p 70% at 6 months. Mean sensor glucose and glucose variability declined, and HbA1c decreased from 7.4% ± 0.8% to 6.9% ± 0.7% at 3 and 6 months (all p ConclusionsIn routine paediatric care, use of this tubeless AID system was associated with rapid and sustained improvements in glycaemic control without increased hypoglycaemia.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov: NCT07425912.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42488981 · DOI · PMC13538724
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Insulin pump therapy: a meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Late thrombosis of drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials [5]
- Research article Meta-Analysis of Nanoparticle Delivery to Tumors Using a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Simulation Approach [6]
- Research article Rediscovery of mononuclear phagocyte system blockade for nanoparticle drug delivery [7]
- Research article Device errors in asthma and COPD: systematic literature review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Target-drug interactions: first principles and their application to drug discovery [9]
References
- Dhull A, Shi M, Harvey ME, Page TM, Sharma R, Goody KJ, et al.. 2-Deoxyglucose Dendrimer-Enabled Niclosamide Delivery to FRβ-Expressing Macrophages Alleviates Endometriosis Progression and Associated Hyperalgesia. . 2026. PMID 42670248 · DOI · PMC13650810
- Renard E, Weinstock RS, Penfornis A, Riveline JP, Thivolet C, Ly TT, et al.. Extended Use of the Omnipod 5 Automated Insulin Delivery System in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: 12-Month Extension of a Randomized Controlled Trial. . 2026. PMID 42671087 · DOI · PMC13528233
- Zanfardino A, Iafusco D, Ippolito G, Del Giudice EM, Rollato AS, Chianese A, et al.. Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of a Tubeless Automated Insulin Delivery System With an Adaptive Control Algorithm (APGO) in Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Multicentre Observational Study. . 2026. PMID 42488981 · DOI · PMC13538724
- Weissberg-Benchell J, Antisdel-Lomaglio J, Seshadri R. Insulin pump therapy: a meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2003. PMID 12663577 · DOI
- Bavry AA, Kumbhani DJ, Helton TJ, Borek PP, Mood GR, Bhatt DL. Late thrombosis of drug-eluting stents: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Am J Med. 2006. PMID 17145250 · DOI
- Cheng YH, He C, Riviere JE, Monteiro-Riviere NA, Lin Z. Meta-Analysis of Nanoparticle Delivery to Tumors Using a Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Simulation Approach. ACS Nano. 2020. PMID 32078303 · DOI · PMC7098057
- Zelepukin IV, Shevchenko KG, Deyev SM. Rediscovery of mononuclear phagocyte system blockade for nanoparticle drug delivery. Nat Commun. 2024. PMID 38777821 · DOI · PMC11111695
- Chrystyn H, van der Palen J, Sharma R, Barnes N, Delafont B, Mahajan A, et al.. Device errors in asthma and COPD: systematic literature review and meta-analysis. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2017. PMID 28373682 · DOI · PMC5434773
- Núñez S, Venhorst J, Kruse CG. Target-drug interactions: first principles and their application to drug discovery. Drug Discov Today. 2012. PMID 21777691 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.