Background:
Compared to traditional dosage methods, the novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) provide various advantages. In the last few years, tremendous focus has been given to work focused on the novel drug delivery methods for small and large molecular drug carriers utilizing particulate drug delivery systems as well. It is evident from last decade as seen in number of patents cited in this field that the technology has evolved tremendously.
Objective:
Drug carriers utilized by this novel technology includes liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, carbon nanomaterials. Various forms of polymers have been used in the production of nanocarriers.
Methods:
Nanocarriers are colloidal system varying in size from 10 to 1000 nm. This technology now used to identify, manage and monitor numerous diseases and physical methods to alter and enhance the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of specific types of drug molecules.
Results:
Nanoparticles can be formulated by a number of techniques including ionic gelation, cross-linking, coacervation/precipitation, nanoprecipitation, spray drying, emulsion- droplet coalescence, nano sonication techniques etc. Several methods are used with which these nanoparticles can be characterized. These methods include nuclear magnetic resonance, optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, photon correlation spectroscopy and electron microscopy, surface charge, in-vitro drug release, etc.
Conclusion:
In the present review, authors have tried to summarize the recent advances in the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology and also focuses on the application and new patents in the area related to NDDS.
The role of pharmaceutical nanotechnology in the time of COVID-19 pandemic
