Abstract

A SCIENTIFIC UPDATE ON NANOTECHNOLOGY: A REVIEW

S. Swati*, M. Deepthi, D. Subba Reddy, A. Sai Kiran and E. Dinesh Babu

Abstract

The use of nanotechnology in medicine has the potential to have a major impact on human health for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. One particular aspect of the nanomedicine field which has received a great deal of attention is the design and development of nanoparticulate nanomedicines (NNMs) for drug delivery (i.e., drug-containing nanoparticles). NNMs are intended to deliver drugs via various mechanisms: solubilization, passive targeting, active targeting, and triggered release. The NNM approach aims to increase therapeutic efficacy, decrease the therapeutically effective dose, and/or reduce the risk of systemic side effects. In order to move a NNM from the bench to the bedside, several experimental challenges need to be addressed. This review will discuss the current trends and challenges in the clinical translation of NNMs as well as the potential pathways for translational development and commercialization. Key issues related to the clinical development of NNMs will be covered, including biological challenges, as biomarkers, ability to locate and treat tumours, delivering the genetic material etc., comparison to current therapies.

Keywords: Nanomedicine, Nanoparticles, Drug delivery systems, Biomarket, Osteoarthritis.