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Drug Uptake Mechanisms

Meaning

Drug uptake mechanisms are the diverse physiological processes by which pharmaceutical agents, supplements, or endogenous compounds are transported from the site of administration across biological membranes into the systemic circulation or target cells. These mechanisms involve both passive diffusion, driven by concentration gradients and lipid solubility, and active transport, which utilizes specific membrane-bound transporter proteins. The efficiency of these mechanisms dictates a compound’s bioavailability and its concentration at the intended site of action, fundamentally influencing therapeutic efficacy and potential for systemic effect.