Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery: Recent Developments and Future Prospects

Abstract

The complexity of some diseases-as well as the inherent toxicity of certain drugs-has led to an increasing interest in the development and optimization of drug-delivery systems. Polymeric nanoparticles stand out as a key tool to improve drug bioavailability or specific delivery at the site of action. The versatility of polymers makes them potentially ideal for fulfilling the requirements of each particular drug-delivery system. In this review, a summary of the state-of-the-art panorama of polymeric nanoparticles as drug-delivery systems has been conducted, focusing mainly on those applications in which the corresponding disease involves an important morbidity, a considerable reduction in the life quality of patients-or even a high mortality. A revision of the use of polymeric nanoparticles for ocular drug delivery, for cancer diagnosis and treatment, as well as nutraceutical delivery, was carried out, and a short discussion about future prospects of these systems is included.

Keywords: cancer diagnosis; cancer drug-delivery systems; drug-delivery systems; nanocarriers; nanoparticles; nutraceuticals; ocular delivery; polymeric materials.

Figure 1

Classification of the different anatomic routes for drug delivery.

Figure 2

Incidence rate of the most conventional eye diseases, according to the WHO (2019) [21].

Figure 3

Schematic of the EPR effect: NPs pass through the endothelial fenestrations and reach cancer cells.

Figure 4

Schematic of the active targeting process: NPs have been functionalized by adding ligands onto their surface that can recognize and bind the receptors in cancer cells.

Figure 5

The exposure to a stimulus triggers congregated nanoparticles drug release.

Figure 6

Use of polymeric nanoparticles for nutraceuticals and different bioactive compounds for greater health and medical benefits.