Editors: Surendra Nimesh, Nidhi Gupta, Ramesh Chandra

Nanomaterials: Evolution and Advancement towards Therapeutic Drug Delivery (Part I)

eBook: US $79 Special Offer (PDF + Printed Copy): US $145
Printed Copy: US $105
Library License: US $316
ISBN: 978-1-68108-782-5 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-68108-781-8 (Online)
Year of Publication: 2021
DOI: 10.2174/97816810878181210101

Introduction

The development of a vector for the delivery of therapeutic drugs in a controlled and targeted fashion is still a major challenge in the treatment of many diseases. The conventional application of drugs may lead to many limitations including poor distribution, limited effectiveness, lack of selectivity and dose dependent toxicity. An efficient drug delivery system can address these problems. Recent nanotechnology advancements in the biomedical field have the potential to meet these challenges in developing drug delivery systems. Nanomaterials are changing the biomedical platform in terms of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Nanomaterials aided drug delivery provides an advantage by enhancing aqueous solubility that leads to improved bioavailability, increased resistance time in the body, decreased side effects by targeting drugs to the specific location, reduced dose dependent toxicity and protection of drugs from early release.

In this volume, the contributors have compiled reports of recent studies illustrating the promising nanomaterials that can work as drug carriers, that can navigate conventional physiological barriers. A detailed account of several types of nanomaterials including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, micelles, carbon nanomaterials, magnetic nanoparticles, solid lipid-based nanoparticles, silica nanomaterials and hydrogels for drug delivery is provided in separate chapters. The contributors also present a discussion on clinical aspects of ongoing research with insights towards future prospects of specific nanotechnologies. The book is an informative resource for scholars who seek updates in nanomedicine with reference to nanomaterials used in drug delivery systems.

Foreword

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), due to their interesting physicochemical properties such as smaller size, larger surface area, electrical, optical and magnetic properties are being sought in a wide range of applications including technology, cosmetics, food packaging, medical imaging and drug delivery. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), quantum dots, mesoporous and amorphous nanosilica, nanosilver, nano titanium and zinc oxides are some of the ENMs currently in commerce. Nevertheless, the attractive physicochemical characteristics of the ENMs also create concerns when exposed to, with respect to human and ecosystem health. This book on “nanomaterials” is very timely, and touches upon the different aspects of application of ENMs in drug delivery. The chapters in this book discuss the use of a spectrum of nanomaterials in drug delivery including nano metal oxides, CNTs and lipid nanoparticles, their various nanoforms, synthesis, characterization, efficacy in terms of drug delivery and the need for toxicity testing. Physicochemical characterization is an important aspect in nanotechnology, especially, in the realm of drug delivery. The synthesis of ENMs can introduce batch to batch variation in terms of size, shape, surface characteristics and chemical composition based on source materials and synthetic routes. Moreover, the stability of ENMs can be affected based on storage conditions. This book has thus given an importance to the aspect of physicochemical testing and discusses the different analytical methods to assess morphology, surface functionalities, behavior in solution, stability, etc. This book on “nanomaterials” also identifies the need for toxicity testing of the ENMs in drug delivery. Toxicity testing is a critical component for the selection of safer ENMs for application in drug delivery and to meet regulatory standards. This book has done a fantastic job in familiarizing the reader with the scope and application of the various ENMs and their nanoforms in drug delivery along with some insight into medical imaging and computational aspect of structure-activity relationships. I congratulate the editor Dr. Surendra Nimesh on doing a fantastic job with this book on the application ENMs in drug delivery, which is one of the promising emerging medical technologies.


Prem Kumarathasan
Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Laboratory
Mechanistic Studies Division
Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A0K9

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