Chapter 13 - Targeted drug delivery and gene therapy through natural biodegradable nanostructures in pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Nanotechnology is emerging as a powerful tool and rapidly growing field with a wide range of applications in drug delivery and manufacturing new materials at a nanoscale level. The targeted drug delivery and gene therapy through natural biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) is an area of major interest in the field of nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals. An ample range of molecules to varying parts of the body for a sustained period of time is delivered through natural, plant- and animal-derived bionanoparticles in the size range of 1–100nm. These NPs are considered to be more beneficial as they can produce a vast range of sophisticated inorganic materials and nanobiomolecules offer unique functionalities such as specific recognition capabilities or catalytic activity. Moreover, synthetic NP-based drug delivery has numerous obstacles including negative side effects and the problem of toxicity risks. The targeting of the drug selectively to the effected sites through natural NPs have revolutionized drug delivery processes as they have increased efficacy, biocompatibility, safety, eco-friendliness, specificity and show reduced level of toxicity with maintaining their therapeutic effects. The various types of plant- and animal-derived nanovectors which are used to deliver therapeutic drugs to different types of cells include polymers, proteins, and polysaccharides etc., that have been explored as ideal drug delivery carriers and effective tools for targeted drug delivery in case of disorders like cardiovascular diseases, colon diseases, and parasitic and brain disorders, etc. This chapter provides insight into the use of plants and animals as diversified, sustainable, environmentally benign, biodegradable resources, and a renewable platform for the production of useful nanostructures with their promising pharmaceutical applications in ocular, brain, vaccine, oral, pulmonary, colon, dermal, and transdermal deliveries.