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Editorial
. 2015;12(12):1823-7.
doi: 10.1517/17425247.2015.1103734. Epub 2015 Oct 29.

Nanotopography applications in drug delivery

Laura A Walsh  1 , Jessica L Allen  2 , Tejal A Desai  2
Affiliations
Editorial

Nanotopography applications in drug delivery

Laura A Walsh et al. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2015.

Abstract

Refinement of micro- and nanofabrication in the semiconductor field has led to innovations in biomedical technologies. Nanotopography, in particular, shows great potential in facilitating drug delivery. The flexibility of fabrication techniques has created a diverse array of topographies that have been developed for drug delivery applications. Nanowires and nanostraws deliver drug cytosolically for in vitro and ex vivo applications. In vivo drug delivery is limited by the barrier function of the epithelium. Nanowires on microspheres increase adhesion and residence time for oral drug delivery, while also increasing permeability of the epithelium. Low aspect ratio nanocolumns increase paracellular permeability, and in conjunction with microneedles increase transdermal drug delivery of biologics in vivo. In summary, nanotopography is a versatile tool for drug delivery. It can deliver directly to cells or be used for in vivo delivery across epithelial barriers. This editorial highlights the application of nanotopography in the field of drug delivery.

Keywords: drug delivery; nanofabrication; nanotopography; oral drug delivery; siRNA; surfaces; transdermal drug delivery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

All authors receive funding from the NIH. They have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Nanostraws provide direct and permanent cytosolic access by piercing the cellular membrane
(A) A schematic of the device used to deliver drug to cells cultured on nanostraws. (B, C) Scanning electron microscopy of cells cultured on nanostraws. Cells are falsely colored green. Reproduced with permission from [10].
Figure 2
Figure 2. Nanotopography mediates transdermal drug delivery of high molecular weight therapeutics in vivo
(A) A schematic of the transdermal drug delivery device. Scanning electron microscopy shows microneedles are coated with nanotopography. (B) Nanostructured microneedles deliver significantly more IgG-based therapeutic than smooth microneedles in rats. (C) Nanostructured microneedles deliver significantly more IgG-based therapeutic in rabbits compared to therapeutic delivered by a smooth microneedle device. Reproduced with permission from [15].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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