Chapter 13 - Preclinical, clinical, and patented nanodrug delivery systems

Abstract

The second half of the last century has seen a tremendous advancement in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors with special attention on development of biopharmaceutics and enhanced pharmacokinetics. Concept of controlled and targeted drug delivery system was introduced during this period. Effective disposition of an intended drug requires a successful drug transmembrane transport system. Apart from successful absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) processes inside the body, a drug needs to cross multiple layers of biofilm after numerous transfers. Traditional methods of drug delivery system are usually associated with their off-target effects with adverse effects to healthy tissues. Researchers are now focusing on developing and optimizing drug delivery systems to give enhanced bioavailability, high drug loading or systemic stability, and also to counteract drug-induced damages from active and passive targeting. With the advancement of nanotechnology in various fields including medical science, nanoparticles (also called nanocarriers or nanospheres) became involved as an emerging drug delivery system. Application of nanomedicine and nanotechnology tries to overcome various challenges encountered in the traditional methods of drug delivery systems. Moreover, nanodrug delivery systems provide alternative technologies for providing efficient movement of drugs across barriers and targeted delivery.