Abstract
In conventional drug administration, drug molecules cross multiple biological barriers, distribute randomly in the tissues, and can release insufficient concentrations at the desired pathological site. Controlling the delivery of the molecules can increase the concentration of the drug in the desired location, leading to improved efficacy, and reducing the unwanted effects of the molecules under investigation. Nanoparticles (NPs), have shown a distinctive potential in targeting drugs due to their unique properties, such as large surface area and quantum properties. A variety of NPs have been used over the years for the encapsulation of different drugs and biologics, acting as drug carriers, including lipid-based and polymeric NPs. Applying NP platforms in medicines significantly improves the disease diagnosis and therapy. Several conventional methods have been used for the manufacturing of drug loaded NPs, with conventional manufacturing methods having several limitations, leading to multiple drawbacks, including NPs with large particle size and broad size distribution (high polydispersity index), besides the unreproducible formulation and high batch-to-batch variability. Therefore, new methods such as microfluidics (MFs) need to be investigated more thoroughly. MFs, is a novel manufacturing method that uses microchannels to produce a size-controlled and monodispersed NP formulation. In this review, different formulation methods of polymeric and lipid-based NPs will be discussed, emphasizing the different manufacturing methods and their advantages and limitations and how microfluidics has the capacity to overcome these limitations and improve the role of NPs as an effective drug delivery system.
Highlights
Nanotechnologies are one of the most inspiring technologies in recent centuries that appear as a novel and promising research filed
The various types of polymers that are used for the manufacturing of NP carriers are approved materials by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and includes hydrophobic polymers such as polycaprolactone (PCL), poly-lactic acid (PLA), poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and hydrophilic polymers such as albumin, chitosan, gelatine, and alginate [104]
This study investigates the impact of different parameters, including total flow ratio (TFR), FFR, and total lipid concentration, on the resultant physicochemical characteristics such as particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and encapsulation efficacy of the liposomes
Summary
Nanotechnologies are one of the most inspiring technologies in recent centuries that appear as a novel and promising research filed. In reality, nanoparticles (NP) structures are not new; these structures have existed on the earth since ancient times; for example, Romans used NPs in glass manufacturing from the fourth century AD, since they used Nano-glass particles to fabricate a glass cup, acknowledged as Lycurgus cup, which was famous and distinctive due to its contrasting colour appearance under the different tones of light [2] These days nanotechnology is a science in itself, with several applications in different fields, including water purification, information technologies, drug development, environmental, food industry, and making more robust and lighter materials [3,4]. Nanotechnology represents an active area for research to improve drug formulations, controlled drug release and targeted delivery
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