In Vivo Pharmacokinetics

In vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetics refer to different methods of studying how a drug behaves in a biological system. Both In vivo and in vitro studies are important and complementary in the field of pharmacokinetics.

In vivo pharmacokinetics involves studying the drug in a living organism. This could be in humans, animals, or even plants. The drug is administered and then various measurements are taken to understand how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. This provides a comprehensive view of the drug’s behavior in a complex biological system, including the effects of various physiological processes. In contrast, in vitro pharmacokinetics involves studying the drug outside of a living organism, often in a controlled laboratory environment such as a petri dish or test tube. These studies typically involve using isolated cells, tissues, or enzymes to understand specific aspects of the drug’s behavior, such as its metabolism or interaction with certain proteins.

In vitro studies can provide more controlled and specific information, but they lack the complexity of a whole organism. Conversely, in vivo studies provide a more holistic view, but can be more complex and difficult to interpret due to the multitude of factors at play.