Nanosystems for pharmaceutical applications

The progression of nanomedicine from the realms of nanoscience and nanotechnology occurred in a methodical way. Richard Feynman, regarded as the father of modern nanotechnology, and Nadrian Seeman, the father of DNA nanotechnology, served as key figures in bridging the gap between nanotechnology and medicine. This modernized discipline has brought about a revolutionary transformation in various industries, notably the pharmaceutical sector, through the precise manipulation of materials at the nanoscale (10-999nm). Nanoscale materials often possess advantageous chemical, physical, and biological qualities that set them apart from their bulk counterparts. Scientists have utilized the unique properties of these materials to advance pharmaceuticals, unveiling strategies that enhance drug bioavailability and efficacy, diminish adverse effects, amplify through enhanced permeation and retention (EPR), and facilitate precise targeted therapies. As per the definition of Rivera et al., nanopharmaceuticals are drugs engineered on the nanoscale, where nanosystems play a vital therapeutic role to enhance the properties of the original compound. To be classified as such, two main criteria must be met: substantial use of nanoengineering in the manufacturing process and the nanosystem contributing to improve therapeutic activity of the active drug molecule. In this chapter we have briefly described different types of nanosytems used in pharmaceutical formulations, their uptake, distribution and clearence. We have also covered the use of nanosystems in cancer therapy and in combating drug resistance infectious diseases.