Drug targeting with nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles are colloidal polymeric particles (size < 1000 nm) to which drugs are bound by sorption, incorporation, or chemical binding. After intravenous injection they normally distribute into the organs of the reticuloendothelial system (liver, spleen, lungs, bone marrow). However, their body distribution can be altered by coating with surfactants or with physiological components such as serum complement factors. The influence of these coatings on the body distribution and possible mechanisms for the alteration of this distribution are discussed. Differently coated nanoparticles can be used for the targeting of bound drugs to tumors, to the brain, and to inflamed areas in the body.

Poly(Ethylene Oxide)-Modified Poly(β-Amino Ester) Nanoparticles as a pH-Sensitive System for Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs: Part 2. In Vivo Distribution and Tumor Localization Studies

“…Polymeric nanoparticles made from natural and synthetic polymers have drawn major attention due to higher stability, maneuverability for industrial manufacture, and opportunity for further surface nanoengineering (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33). They can be tailor-made to achieve both controlled drug release and disease specific localization by tuning the polymer characteristics and surface chemistry (23,(28)(29)(30)(34)(35)(36).…”

“…They can be tailor-made to achieve both controlled drug release and disease specific localization by tuning the polymer characteristics and surface chemistry (23,(28)(29)(30)(34)(35)(36). It has been established that nanocarriers can get concentrated preferentially in the tumor mass, inflammatory sites, and at infectious sites by virtue of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of the vasculature.…”

“…It has been established that nanocarriers can get concentrated preferentially in the tumor mass, inflammatory sites, and at infectious sites by virtue of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of the vasculature. Once accumulated at the target site, hydrophobic biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles can act as local drug depot depending upon the make-up of the carrier, thus providing a source for continuous supply of encapsulated therapeutic compound at the disease site, such as solid tumor (23,28). In order to prolong the systemic circulation times of the nanoparticles and enhance their passive targeting efficiency, various strategies that involve regulation of particle size, surface charge, and creation of a hydrophilic surface "brush" on the nanomatrices have been employed.…”

Effects of Nanoparticles in Cells Infected by Toxoplasma gondii

“…Nanoparticles (NPs) are a tool for specifically targeting drugs or diagnostics to selected tissues or cell types [1][2][3]. Their use in cancer research and therapy is of special interest [4][5][6][7][8][9] as well as to overcome the blood-brain barrier [10,11].…”

Revolutionary Impact of Nanodrug Delivery on Neuroscience

“…Other nanoconstructs such as drug-polymer conjugates were first proposed in the 1970s [127] and developed pre-clinically in the 1980s [128]. Prof. Kreuter [129] proposed a definition of polymeric nanoparticles for pharmaceutical purposes for the first time that later was adopted by the Encyclopaedia of Pharmaceutical Technology [130] and the Encyclopedia of nanotechnology [131]. Today, more than 25 nanomedicines have already been approved for human use [102].…”