The big picture on nanomedicine: the state of investigational and approved nanomedicine products

Abstract

Developments in nanomedicine are expected to provide solutions to many of modern medicine's unsolved problems, so it is no surprise that the literature contains many articles discussing the subject. However, existing reviews tend to focus on specific sectors of nanomedicine or to take a very forward-looking stance and fail to provide a complete perspective on the current landscape. This article provides a more comprehensive and contemporary inventory of nanomedicine products. A keyword search of literature, clinical trial registries, and the Web yielded 247 nanomedicine products that are approved or in various stages of clinical study. Specific information on each was gathered, so the overall field could be described based on various dimensions, including FDA classification, approval status, nanoscale size, treated condition, nanostructure, and others. In addition to documenting the many nanomedicine products already in use in humans, this study identifies several interesting trends forecasting the future of nanomedicine.

From the clinical editor: In this one of a kind review, the state of nanomedicine commercialization is discussed, concentrating only on nanomedicine-based developments and products that are either in clinical trials or have already been approved for use.

Figure 1

Five general stages of nanomedicine development. This study focuses on the applications and products approved and under clinical investigation because they will have the highest impact on the direction of nanomedicine over the foreseeable future.

Figure 2

Year of approval for confirmed and likely nanomedicine products identified.

Figure 3

Mean size of nanocomponents for all nanomedicine applications and products for which the data were available. The dotted line indicates the cut-off for this study’s definition of nanomedicine, below which a significant number of the products fall. The notable peak around 2000nm consists of a number of “nanocrystal dispersion” products.

Figure 4

Medical uses for confirmed and likely nanomedicine therapeutics (A) and devices (B) identified.

Figure 5

Route of administration for confirmed and likely nanomedicine applications and products identified, with a description of passive versus active targeting for those utilizing intravenous delivery.