Nanobiotechnology has an impact on drug discovery, development and delivery through its application of nanotechnology in several biological fields. Over the past few decades, nanotechnology has revolutionized biomedical science as well as the healthcare system. For example, semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) for diagnostics, protein and DNA chips, nanoparticles for drug delivery and gene delivery, etc. Subsequently, the application of nanotechnology in medicine to be called ‘nanomedicine’ has been considered as a hot topic for the future of nanotechnology. Nanopharmaceuticals typically employ nanotechnology-based approaches to improve bioavailability, patient compliance, safety and efficacy of drugs. The concept for designing nanopharmaceuticals for a safer and more effective drug delivery and diagnostic assessment was visualized more than 40 years ago. However, this goal has become seemingly more and more achievable in recent years with many products being commercialized for the treatment and prevention of many critical diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, and so on.
The performance of conventional drugs and diagnostic agents primarily depends on their physicochemical properties, such as molecular weight, solubility, chemical and physical stability. Drugs with unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles or that are prone to degradation, ultimately exhibit poor therapeutic potential. Nanomedicine based approaches have shown immense potential for overcoming such limitations of conventional therapeutics.
Nanopharmaceuticals include drug particles, drug-carrier particles or drug-carrier complexes, with sizes in the range of 10-1000 nm. Owing to their very small size, nanoparticles impart unique therapeutic properties that are otherwise not exhibited by the conventional drugs currently on the market. The desired unique properties might be in part due to an improved solubility, increased stability, improved permeability, reduced toxicity and increased accumulation of a drug in the desired area.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the different approaches adopted by nanocarriers to overcome limitations that are associated with having unfavorable drug properties, such as poor solubility, short circulation half-life and toxicity to name a few. We welcome submission of Original Research, Review Articles and Short reports or Letters articles including but not limited to the following topics:
• Types and uses of nanocarriers (such as Liposomes, organic and inorganic nanoparticles) as drug delivery systems.
• New methodologies and challenges faced in Nanomedicine, Nanotherapeutics and Nanodiagnostics.
• Evidence of functional nano-biomaterials that can be used for an effective drug delivery.
Important note: All manuscripts submitted to this collection will need to follow the Guidelines for the conception/peer-review of submissions of the Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Section. Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations or Original Research based solely on in silico techniques will not be considered for review.
Nanobiotechnology has an impact on drug discovery, development and delivery through its application of nanotechnology in several biological fields. Over the past few decades, nanotechnology has revolutionized biomedical science as well as the healthcare system. For example, semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) for diagnostics, protein and DNA chips, nanoparticles for drug delivery and gene delivery, etc. Subsequently, the application of nanotechnology in medicine to be called ‘nanomedicine’ has been considered as a hot topic for the future of nanotechnology. Nanopharmaceuticals typically employ nanotechnology-based approaches to improve bioavailability, patient compliance, safety and efficacy of drugs. The concept for designing nanopharmaceuticals for a safer and more effective drug delivery and diagnostic assessment was visualized more than 40 years ago. However, this goal has become seemingly more and more achievable in recent years with many products being commercialized for the treatment and prevention of many critical diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, and so on.
The performance of conventional drugs and diagnostic agents primarily depends on their physicochemical properties, such as molecular weight, solubility, chemical and physical stability. Drugs with unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles or that are prone to degradation, ultimately exhibit poor therapeutic potential. Nanomedicine based approaches have shown immense potential for overcoming such limitations of conventional therapeutics.
Nanopharmaceuticals include drug particles, drug-carrier particles or drug-carrier complexes, with sizes in the range of 10-1000 nm. Owing to their very small size, nanoparticles impart unique therapeutic properties that are otherwise not exhibited by the conventional drugs currently on the market. The desired unique properties might be in part due to an improved solubility, increased stability, improved permeability, reduced toxicity and increased accumulation of a drug in the desired area.
This Research Topic aims to highlight the different approaches adopted by nanocarriers to overcome limitations that are associated with having unfavorable drug properties, such as poor solubility, short circulation half-life and toxicity to name a few. We welcome submission of Original Research, Review Articles and Short reports or Letters articles including but not limited to the following topics:
• Types and uses of nanocarriers (such as Liposomes, organic and inorganic nanoparticles) as drug delivery systems.
• New methodologies and challenges faced in Nanomedicine, Nanotherapeutics and Nanodiagnostics.
• Evidence of functional nano-biomaterials that can be used for an effective drug delivery.
Important note: All manuscripts submitted to this collection will need to follow the Guidelines for the conception/peer-review of submissions of the Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Section. Studies carried out with crude extracts/multiherbal preparations or Original Research based solely on in silico techniques will not be considered for review.