Over the last few decades, nanoparticles have emerged as a promising and advanced tool that can be used as a contrasting agent in medical imaging, a vehicle to cross the blood-brain barrier and a carrier for targeted delivery of genes / drugs, proteins, vaccines and antibiotics. Nanoparticles as a delivery system are gaining advantage over conventional delivery systems owing to their unique characteristics, such as small size (nano-scale), larger surface area, biological mobility, self-assembly, and display of quantum effect. Over time, advancements in the field of nanotechnology have paved the way for the development of nanoparticles-based therapeutics. The growing interest in using nanoparticles for therapeutic purposes can be attributed to their ability to enhance drug bioavailability, protect from physiological barriers and encapsulate multiple drugs in order to target more than one disease indication. In addition to this, presence of nanoparticles in vaccines also contributes to their overall immunomodulatory properties, making them a suitable candidate in the formulation of vaccines. The global nanoparticle formulation market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of around 9.4%, till 2035, according to Roots Analysis. Driven by the growing demand for nanoparticle-based therapeutics, the nanoparticle formulation market is anticipated to witness substantial growth in the coming decade.
NANOPARTICLES OVERVIEW
Nanoparticles (zero-dimensional nanomaterials) are ultra-fine particles with overall dimension ranging between 1-100 nm. These are composed of three different layers, which include a surface layer (consisting of small molecule, metal ions, surfactants and polymers), a shell layer and core (central part of the nanoparticle). Owing to their unique size and physicochemical properties (surface roughness, surface area, surface energy, crystal structure and shape), nanoparticles are used for the purpose of diagnostics and therapeutics. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles enable effective drug loading, site-specific delivery, increased drug efficacy and controlled / sustained release of medication. Moreover, it increases the bioavailability and solubility of the attached molecule. Through the manipulation of biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic properties of the molecule, nanoparticle-based drugs can lead to improved patient adherence, reduction of unspecific toxicity and better clinical outcomes. In fact, in the last twenty years, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have authorized the market approval of around 80 nanomedicines.
It is worth noting that in case of oncological disorders, nanoparticles are being developed to increase the permeability and retention of the chemotherapeutic agents through the delivery of both diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Over time, nanoparticles have also become an indispensable tool for the encapsulation of cargoes for non-personalized treatment. Lately, these are being developed for effective drug delivery to improve precision therapies wherein the dosing and drug specificity can be optimized. The pharmaceutical sector is also extensively focusing on nanocarrier-mediated combination therapies which confer several advantages, such as alteration of multiple pathways, targeting of a particular phase of cell cycle, and increased efficacy against a specific macromolecule.
CLASSIFICATION OF NANOPARTICLES
Based on their composition, nanoparticles can be categorized under three categories namely organic nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles and carbon-based nanoparticles. Organic nanoparticles
- Organic Nanoparticles: They are solid particles that are composed of natural / synthetic organic molecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids and polymers (possessing biodegradable and biocompatible characteristics). These particles are generally synthesized through different methods, including emulsification and precipitation. It is worth noting that organic nanoparticles are better suited for biological applications owing to the fact that they are highly economic and eco-friendly.
- Inorganic Nanoparticles: They are particles composed of materials that do not contain carbon atoms. These nanoparticles have unique physical and chemical properties that are different from those of bulk materials, making them useful for a wide range of applications.
- Carbon-based Nanoparticles: These are the novel class of nanoparticles composed of pure form of carbonaceous material. These nanoparticles can be fabricated in the form of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, graphene oxide, nanodiamonds and graphite. Their ability to respond to light and interact with the associated entities at a single time is extensively employed for the purpose of detection of biomolecules. This is mainly attributed to its high semi-conductivity and inherent electrical characteristics (organic pi-pi stacking). Owing to their versatile optical, mechanical and structural properties, these nanoparticles find applications in bio-sensing, imaging and drug delivery
KEY BENEFITS OF NANOPARTICLES-BASED SYSTEM
- Enhanced solubility and bioavailability of water insoluble drugs
- Modified drug release and kinetics
- Reduction in dosing frequency
- Exhibition of deep tissue penetration
- Compatibility with various routes of administration
- Improvement in therapeutic index
APPLICATIONS OF NANOPARTICLE-BASED SYSTEMS
Nanoparticle-based systems are gaining popularity across healthcare and life sciences fields due to their unique, enhanced properties and size-related attributes of nanoparticles. Few of its applications are listed below:
- Drug Delivery: Nanoparticles can encapsulate drugs, allowing for targeted delivery to specific cells or tissues, reducing side effects and improving therapeutic efficacy.
- Cancer Therapy: Nanoparticles can deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues and improving treatment outcomes.
- Diagnostics: Nanoparticles can be used in diagnostic tests to enhance sensitivity and specificity, leading to earlier disease detection and monitoring.
- Vaccines: Nanoparticles can improve the efficacy of vaccines by enhancing antigen presentation and immune response.
- Tissue Engineering: Nanoparticles can be incorporated into scaffolds and biomaterials for tissue regeneration and organ transplantation.
- Antibacterial Agents: Nanoparticles can be used as antimicrobial agents to combat drug-resistant bacteria.
- Gene Therapy: Nanoparticles can deliver genetic material to target cells for gene therapy applications.
- Monitoring and Sensing: Nanoparticles can be used as biosensors to detect specific biomarkers, enabling real-time monitoring of disease progression.
LIMITATIONS OF NANOPARTICLES-BASED SYSTEM
- Requirement of extensive knowledge about toxicity and characterization
- High costs of development / formulation process
- Agglomeration of nanoparticles
- Chances of variance in vascular permeability
- Chances of toxicity with non-biodegradable materials
- Ethical and social concerns
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Within a short span, nanoparticle-based drugs have emerged as a promising treatment alternative, having demonstrated a strong therapeutic potential across a number of disease indications. Considering the ongoing pace of research in this domain, experts believe that many remarkable innovations related to nanoparticles (in terms of improvement in disease diagnosis and treatment specificity) would be introduced in the coming years. The ongoing research activities focused on nanotechnology for detection and control of vector-borne diseases, dialysis, and molecular imaging, have further fueled the demand for these nanoparticles. Further, nanoparticles can be engineered to achieve optimal delivery and overcome the limitations of biological barriers (systemic, microenvironmental and cellular) in the patient’s body due to its modifiable properties (size, shape, surface properties and charge). However, the complex interplay between nanoparticle properties and biological systems requires careful consideration to ensure safety and efficacy of these nanoscale materials. The services offered by contract service providers (CROs, CDOs and CDMOs) related to the development and formulation of nanoparticles are believed to invariably support researchers and drug developers in order to navigate the complexities associated with its design, development and manufacturing. By leveraging the multifaceted expertise in the field, contract service providers can help streamline the nanoparticle development process, reduce costs and accelerate the translation of promising nanoparticles from lab scale to clinical scale. This will eventually aid the drug developers to address the challenges in effective delivery of various therapeutics and improve the clinical outcome through the incorporation of nanoparticle-based drugs.
About Roots Analysis
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