Surface Modified Multifunctional and Stimuli Responsive Nanoparticles for Drug Targeting: Current Status and Uses

Abstract

Nanocarriers, due to their unique features, are of increased interest among researchers working with pharmaceutical formulations. Polymeric nanoparticles and nanocapsules, involving non-toxic biodegradable polymers, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and inorganic–organic nanomaterials, are among the most used carriers for drugs for a broad spectrum of targeted diseases. In fact, oral, injectable, transdermal-dermal and ocular formulations mainly consist of the aforementioned nanomaterials demonstrating promising characteristics such as long circulation, specific targeting, high drug loading capacity, enhanced intracellular penetration, and so on. Over the last decade, huge advances in the development of novel, safer and less toxic nanocarriers with amended properties have been made. In addition, multifunctional nanocarriers combining chemical substances, vitamins and peptides via coupling chemistry, inorganic particles coated by biocompatible materials seem to play a key role considering that functionalization can enhance characteristics such as biocompatibility, targetability, environmental friendliness, and intracellular penetration while also have limited side effects. This review aims to summarize the “state of the art” of drug delivery carriers in nanosize, paying attention to their surface functionalization with ligands and other small or polymeric compounds so as to upgrade active and passive targeting, different release patterns as well as cell targeting and stimuli responsibility. Lastly, future aspects and potential uses of nanoparticulated drug systems are outlined.

Branched peptides as bioactive molecules for drug design

“…A completely different strategy to solve the problem of stability, half‐life, and favorable biodistribution of a peptide drug is that of linking it to carriers, such as liposomes or solid nanoparticles . Alternatively, peptides can be synthesized to build dendrimers or oligodendrimers, yielding nanoparticles that carry specificity and stability at the same time (Figure B) …”

Synthesis and Catalytic Applications of Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube–Polyamidoamine Dendrimer Hybrids

“…Those locations are able to host either metallic nanoparticles (NPs) or organometallic complexes for homogeneous‐like catalytic applications . Dendrimers can also fulfill the role of encapsulating vectors in the field of nanomedicine and are intensively studied in drug delivery systems …”

“…[23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Dendrimersc an also fulfill the role of encapsulating vectors in the field of nanomedicine and are intensively studied in drug delivery systems. [26,[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] The combination of NCs and PAMAM gives various advantages.F irst of all,d endrimers significantly increase the dispersibility of the carbonaceous material and therefore favor its handling and processability.S econdly,d endrimers facet he usual drawbacks of homogeneousc atalytic systems: theya re tedious to recover and recycle. This is especially true for small-size dendrimers.…”

Wide band-gap oxide nanoparticles as potential drug carriers

“…In the field of biomedicine, one of the most researched applications are drug delivery systems (DDS) (7,8). Many NPs exhibit properties advantageous for DDS, such as the ease of modification, low toxicity, ability to penetrate physiological barriers, favourable biodistribution, biocompatibility and biodegradability (3,5,(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Furthermore, NPs may also protect a drug from degradation and increase its biological stability, bioavailability and retention time.…”

“…Furthermore, NPs may also protect a drug from degradation and increase its biological stability, bioavailability and retention time. Various materials have been used as NPs (proteins, lipids, metals, metal oxides, nucleic acids) for DDS, each with its own advantages and unsolved problems (9,10,14,15).…”