Nanomedicine is an application of nanotechnology in medicine and has emerged as a cutting-edge profession with tremendous significance in drug delivery within the field of pharmaceuticals. The use of nanoparticles to transport a therapeutic agent has permitted researchers to enhance the efficacy, specificity, and bioavailability of drugs, thereby minimizing their side effects and maximizing patient benefit. The paper will discuss how drug delivery mechanisms via nanotechnology affect modern medicine. 

Understanding Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine uses nanoscale agents, which are usually defined as materials of 1-100 nanometers in size. Nanomedicine applications include advanced therapies for drug delivery, imaging, and therapeutics (Shi et al., 2017). These materials can be designed to develop novel properties for specific drug delivery, extended circulation times, and controlled release mechanisms. Among the most studied nanotechnology drug delivery systems are liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers as nanocarriers (Kumar et al. 2021). 

Enhanced Drug Delivery Through Nanotechnology 

Nanomedicine’s major advantage is that it can solve a third problem-drug solubility and stability problems. Many drugs, especially anticancer agents, suffer from very low water solubility, which restricts their bioavailability. The enhanced nanoparticle formulations increase drug solubility for better absorption and distribution in the body (Torchilin, 2020).
Nanotechnology has also introduced the concept of targeted drug delivery for site-specific therapy. Particles can be functionalized to find and bind to specific receptors on cells whereby the drug is exactly delivered to diseased tissues while healthy tissues are spared as much as possible (Wilhelm, 2016). Certainly, this looks much more promising in cancer therapy as targeted nanomedicine avoids the systemic toxicity burden in conventional chemotherapy. 

Types of Nanocarriers

Numerous nanocarriers are currently in development to optimize drug delivery:  

  • Liposomes: These are spherical vesicles composed of lipid bilayers that carry drugs for improved bioavailability and reduced toxicity (Allen & Cullis, 2013).  
  • Polymeric nanoparticles: These are biodegradable carriers capable of controlled and sustained drug release (Danhier et al., 2012).  
  • Dendrimers: These nanostructured-branched systems with high drug-loading ability possess a unique capability for targeting (Kannan et al., 2014).  
  • Gold nanoparticles: Its biocompatibility and comparatively easy functionalizing have made it attractive for drug delivery and imaging (Sun et al., 2014)  
  • Carbon nanotubes: Hollows tubes that facilitate the direct transport of drugs to the cells but concern is raised regarding toxicity (Liu et al., 2008). 

Clinical Applications of Nanomedicine in Drug Delivery

Nanomedicine has already contributed significantly to various therapeutic areas that are relevant to oncology, infectious diseases and neurological disorders. 

Oncology: Focusing on chemo-therapeutic agents, the significance of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems was made in modifying the efficacy of drugs in favor of more productive cancer therapies. Doxil, the liposomal form of doxorubicin, was able to increase drug concentration at the tumor site and decrease cardiac toxicity at the same time (Barenholz, 2012). In a similar manner, Abraxane, nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, enhanced solubility and tumor penetration of the drug (Gradishar et al., 2005). 

Infectious Diseases: Infectious diseases also have a treatment that is advanced using nanotechnology. A good example is liposomal amphotericin B, a nanoparticle antifungal with lesser nephrotoxicity than its standard formulation (Adler-Moore & Proffitt, 2002). In addition, researchers are working to develop targeted antibiotic therapies through nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems that may help combat antibiotic resistance (Huh & Kwon, 2011). 

Neurological Disorders: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a serious challenge in the delivery of drugs into the central nervous system. In this respect, nanomedicine presents solutions for successful drug delivery across the barrier. Polymeric nanoparticles and liposomes have been analyzed for delivering therapies against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s (Saraiva et al., 2016). 

Challenges and Future Directions 

Even with a fair share of promise, there are serious challenges faced by nanomedicine with respect to biocompatibility, toxicity, and large-scale commercialization. Some nanoparticles provoke immune response or localized toxic responses (Khan et al., 2019), hence these may be found to cause certain organs to accumulate with the drug substance. Moreover, certain regulatory blocks in the way as any clinical trials for safety and efficacy of nanomedicine-based therapeutics, with the absence of standardized experimental procedure, would take many a time (Etheridge et al., 2013).

These challenges are still under research, and advances in nanotechnology have great promise in the field of medicine.Personalized nanomedicine, where invoked treatments depend on individual genetic proclivity, opens an interesting avenue (Subbiah et al., 2016). On top of that, the emergence of smart nanoparticles with the ability to elicit a controlled drug release under the influence of some physiological stimuli adds to the fast-paced advancing frontiers of nanomedicine (Wang et al., 2021). 

Conclusion

Nanomedicine is revolutionizing drug delivery by enhancing solubility, improving targeting capability, and minimizing side effects. Nanotechnologically engineered therapeutics will, with continued research and technical development, redefine modern medicine in the treatment of various diseases. In spite of the challenges that lie ahead, nanomedicine has a bright outlook and creates an avenue for drug delivery systems that are more efficient and safer. 

References

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  2. Allen, T. M., & Cullis, P. R. (2013). Liposomal drug delivery systems: From concept to clinical applications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 65(1), 36-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.037 
  3. Anselmo, A. C., & Mitragotri, S. (2020). Nanoparticles in the clinic: An update. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, 5(1), e10143. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10143 
  4. Barenholz, Y. (2012). Doxil®—the first FDA-approved nano-drug: Lessons learned. Journal of Controlled Release, 160(2), 117-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2012.03.020 
  5. Khan, I., Saeed, K., & Khan, I. (2019). Nanoparticles: Properties, applications and toxicities. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 12(7), 908-931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2017.05.011 
  6. Saraiva, C., Praca, C., Ferreira, R., Santos, T., Ferreira, L., & Bernardino, L. (2016). Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: Overcoming blood-brain barrier to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Journal of Controlled Release, 235, 34-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.05.044 
  7. Wang, H., Agarwal, P., & Zhao, S. (2022). Smart nanoparticles for drug delivery: Advances and perspectives. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 186, 114333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2022.114333 
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