Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
14
Nanoparticles: Scope in Drug Delivery
Megha Tanwar, Jaishree Meena and Laxman S. Meena*
CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology,
Delhi University Campus, Delhi, India
Abstract
Nanotechnology is the most expeditiously emerging technology in the i eld of
therapeutics as drug delivery systems. It is the manipulation of matter on atomic
and molecular scale. It works on devices, structures and materials with at least one
dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoparticle based technology has
played a signii cant role in treatment and prevention of tuberculosis, cancer, etc.
Recently a variety of nanocarriers has been evaluated as potential drug delivery
systems for various administration routes. Liposomes and microspheres have been
developed for sustained delivery of anti-TB drugs. Several anti-cancer drugs includ-
ing paclitaxel, doxorubicin, 5-l uorouracil and dexamethasone have been success-
fully formulated using nanomaterial. Targeting of drugs to certain physiological sites
using nanoparticles has emerged a promising tool in treatment of tuberculosis with
improved drug bioavailability and reduction of dosing frequency. Nanotechnology
based targeting of drugs may improve the therapeutic success by limiting the adverse
drug ef ects and resulting in more patient's compliance and attaining high adherence
level. Nanotechnology holds merit as a drug carrier because of its high carrier capac-
ity, feasibility of incorporation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances,
high stability, and also because of feasibility of variable routes of administration like
oral application and inhalation. h e nanoparticle based drug delivery systems are
advantageous over other modes of drug administration as nanoparticles deliver the
drug more ei ciently and with reduced side ef ects as well. Most recently, various
vesicular systems have been developed such as niosomes which can be explored for
achieving maximum ef ective concentration of the delivered drug. h ey can be uti-
lized for research on various drugs and may turn out to be most promising mode of
drug delivery in treatment of various deadly diseases.
Keywords:
Nanoparticles, targeted drug delivery, nanomedicine
