Nano based drug delivery systems: recent developments and future prospects

Abstract

Nanomedicine and nano delivery systems are a relatively new but rapidly developing science where materials in the nanoscale range are employed to serve as means of diagnostic tools or to deliver therapeutic agents to specific targeted sites in a controlled manner. Nanotechnology offers multiple benefits in treating chronic human diseases by site-specific, and target-oriented delivery of precise medicines. Recently, there are a number of outstanding applications of the nanomedicine (chemotherapeutic agents, biological agents, immunotherapeutic agents etc.) in the treatment of various diseases. The current review, presents an updated summary of recent advances in the field of nanomedicines and nano based drug delivery systems through comprehensive scrutiny of the discovery and application of nanomaterials in improving both the efficacy of novel and old drugs (e.g., natural products) and selective diagnosis through disease marker molecules. The opportunities and challenges of nanomedicines in drug delivery from synthetic/natural sources to their clinical applications are also discussed. In addition, we have included information regarding the trends and perspectives in nanomedicine area.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Drug targeting; Nanomaterials; Nanomedicine; Natural products.

Fig. 1

Application and goals of nanomedicine in different sphere of biomedical research

Fig. 2

Mechanisms for controlled release of drugs using different types of nanocarriers

Fig. 3

Polymeric micelles used for reaching the posterior ocular tissues via the transcleral pathway after topical application (the figure is reproduced from Mandal et al. [147] with required copyright permission)

Fig. 4

Different sources of natural biopolymers to be used in nanomedicine applications. Natural biopolymers could be obtained from higher plants, animals, microorganisms and algae

Fig. 5

Examples of natural compounds extracted from higher plants used in nanomedicine aiming different approaches. Some of these extracts are already being marketed, others are in clinical trials and others are being extensively studied by the scientific community

Fig. 6

a Structure of berberine/heparin based nanoparticles and berberine/heparin/chitosan nanoparticles. b TEM images of the berberine/heparin nanoparticles and berberine/heparin/chitosan nanoparticles (the figure is reproduced from Chang et al. [232] with required copyright permission)