Nanosized forms of drugs (A Review)

Abstract

The main directions of research in the field of nanosized carrier systems for targeted delivery of drugs are reviewed. The fields of research and the results from characterization of the pharmacological properties of nanosized forms of drugs, including nanospheres, liposomes, dendrimers, fullerenes, nanocapsules, and nanocrystalline forms of drugs are considered. Prospects of the search for new forms of drugs based on achievements in nanobiotechnology are considered with a view to the reduction of side effects and improvement of the bioavailability of drugs.

Organic nanoparticles

“…128 Other applications of nanoparticles in medicine have been considered elsewhere. 129 The wider use of nanoparticles in medicine was partly limited by their relatively high cost and the insufficiently studied mechanisms of their interaction with living cells and tissues of the organism.…”

Nanomedicine and drug delivery: a mini review

“…This can make in vivo delivery of many types of drugs which pose serious delivery problems, a relatively easy task [26]. Modifying or functionalizing nanoparticles to deliver drugs through the blood brain barrier for targeting brain tumors can be regarded as a brilliant outcome of this technology [27]. For example, doxorubicin does not cross the blood-brain barrier, but its integration with polysorbate 80 modified polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles can increase its delivery to the brain to a significant extent [28].…”

Gold Nanorods for Drug and Gene Delivery: An Overview of Recent Advancements

“…nDDSs have unique features such as easier cell uptake, controlled drug release, prolonged stability of drugs inside the cells, long-lasting circulation time, reduction in drug side effects, enhanced bioavailability and biocompatibility, the potency of targeted delivery, lower administration dose [ 19 , 20 ], controllable pharmacokinetics, and traceability of delivery system [ 21 , 22 ]. These systems could be designed in the form of liposome [ 23 ], micelles, polymers [ 24 ], polysaccharides [ 25 ], self-assembled peptides [ 26 ], dendrimers, silica-based nanomaterials, bioactive glasses [ 27 ], hydrogels, carbon-based nanomaterials [ 28 ], metal nanoparticles, recently exosomes [ 29 ] and several other forms which could be used for delivering both drugs and oligonucleotides (DNAs or RNAs) [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Some examples of commercially available drugs containing nDDSs are Doxil ® (Doxorubicin, polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated liposome) [ 19 , 37 ], Abraxane ® (Paclitaxel, Polymer nanoparticle) [ 38 , 39 ], and Vivagel ® (Dendrimer nanoparticle) [ 32 , 40 ].…”