Abstract
Nanotechnology offers many advantages in various fields of science. In this regard, nanoparticles are the essential building blocks of nanotechnology. Recent advances in nanotechnology have proven that nanoparticles acquire a great potential in medical applications. Formation of stable interactions with ligands, variability in size and shape, high carrier capacity, and convenience of binding of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances make nanoparticles favorable platforms for the target-specific and controlled delivery of micro- and macromolecules in disease therapy. Nanoparticles combined with the therapeutic agents overcome problems associated with conventional therapy; however, some issues like side effects and toxicity are still debated and should be well concerned before their utilization in biological systems. It is therefore important to understand the specific properties of therapeutic nanoparticles and their delivery strategies. Here, we provide an overview on the unique features of nanoparticles in the biological systems. We emphasize on the type of clinically used nanoparticles and their specificity for therapeutic applications, as well as on their current delivery strategies for specific diseases such as cancer, infectious, autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, ocular, and pulmonary diseases. Understanding of the characteristics of nanoparticles and their interactions with the biological environment will enable us to establish novel strategies for the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis in many diseases, particularly untreatable ones.
Highlights
Nanomedicine is an emerging approach for the implementation of nanotechnological systems in disease diagnosis and therapy
Development of nanoparticle-based therapeutic agents has been extensively studied, and nano-delivery systems are the area of prime importance for targeting the desired area in the treatment of many diseases
The majority of nanoparticles used for the targeting delivery approach are made of polymers or lipids
Summary
Nanomedicine is an emerging approach for the implementation of nanotechnological systems in disease diagnosis and therapy This branch of nanotechnology can be classified in two main categories: nanodevices and nanomaterials. Association of therapeutic agents with nanoparticles exhibiting unique physicochemical and biological properties and designing their pathways for suitable targeting is a promising approach in delivering a wide range of molecules to certain locations in the body [5]. This targeted strategy enhances the concentration of therapeutic agent in cells/tissues; thereby, low doses can be used, if there is a contradiction between the therapeutic activity and the toxic effects of the agent. We summarized the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles making them crucial vehicles in nanomedicine and provide a review of the last decade for therapeutic nanoparticles and their targeted delivery applications in various disorders such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases
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