Nanoparticles: An Overview
Various polymers have been used in the formulation of nanoparticles for the drug delivery research to increase therapeutic benefit, while minimizing side effects and their applications in delivery of drug molecules and therapeutic genes are reviewed.
Abstract
Nanoparticles are the preparations having size in nanometers. Particulate systems like nanoparticles have been used as a physical approach to alter and improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodymanic properties of various types of drug molecules.They have been used in vivo to protect the drug entity in the systemic circulation, restrict access of the drug to the choosen sites and to deliver the drug at a controlled and sustained rate to the site of action. Various polymers have been used in the formulation of nanoparticles for the drug delivery research to increase therapeutic benefit, while minimizing side effects.Here we review various aspects of nanoparticle formulation, characterization, effect of their characteristics and their applications in delivery of drug molecules and therapeutic genes. Keywords : Nanoparticles, controlled and sustained rate, polymers, characterization, evaluation