About this Research Topic
Drug delivery is an ever-evolving field requiring continuous innovation. Scientists and industry professionals are diligently pursuing advancements, moving from conventional oral and injectable formulations to personalized and sophisticated drug delivery mechanisms. This shift reflects significant growth in standard therapeutic approaches. The need for these advancements arises from the challenges posed by traditional methods, such as toxicity, systemic side effects, rapid degradation, and poor bioavailability.
The introduction of novel formulations utilizing nanotechnologies represents a major leap forward, enhancing treatment efficacy while prioritizing patient convenience. Nanocarriers have the ability to strike a balance between efficacy and toxicity risks, traversing biological barriers with minimal invasiveness. By precisely targeting organ sites, these nanocarriers effectively reduce the toxicity and systemic side effects of drugs. Additionally, these innovative particles offer controlled or sustained release mechanisms that can be tailored to achieve the desired drug release profile.
The synergy between nanotechnology and biomaterials has opened up new frontiers in drug delivery. Various methods can be employed to mitigate toxicity by modifying the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of individual drugs. For drugs with poor permeability, techniques such as incorporating them into nanocarriers like liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers, and other advanced materials can enhance their permeability or solubility.
However, it is also crucial to consider the potential toxicity of the nanomaterials or nanocarriers themselves. The biological interactions of nanocarriers with target and non-target cells, including interactions with phagocytic cells in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), need to be thoroughly explored. The bio-corona of adsorbed proteins and other biomolecules may affect the biodistribution of the nanocarrier. Thus, both the pharmacokinetics of the drug and the toxicokinetics of the carrier need to be considered to successfully translate these drug delivery approaches to the clinic. Additionally, the biodegradation and/or excretion of the nanocarriers and not just the drugs, warrant detailed examination.
This Research Topic provides a dedicated platform for researchers and professionals to disseminate their latest discoveries, covering severe and prolonged effects, substance interactions, dosage-related issues, impacts on patient populations, and the potential adverse effects of nanocarriers.
This Research Topic aims to present the most recent scientific advancements and findings related to nanotechnology in drug delivery, with a focus on balancing therapeutic efficacy and the risk of toxicity. It will also emphasize the benefits of these innovations, such as organ-specific targeting, enhanced bioavailability, and comprehensive toxicological assessments. Contributions addressing methodological advancements for creating and characterizing realistic reference particles are encouraged.
Researchers and experts from diverse fields, including toxicology, pharmaceutics, and chemistry, are invited to share their insights, innovative methodologies, and cutting-edge research to enhance our understanding of drug delivery and toxicological assessments.
For this Research Topic, we invite submissions of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, methods, perspectives, community case studies, conceptual analyses, data reports, policy briefs, brief research reports, general commentaries, and opinions. The main areas to be explored in this Research Topic, but not exclusively limited to, include:
• Showcasing the evolution from traditional approaches to nanocarriers, novel formulations, and precision targeting.
• Highlighting the advantages of these innovations, including enhanced therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and comprehensive toxicological assessments.
• Exploring the integration of nanotechnology and biomaterials as crucial components in drug delivery.
• Addressing the potential toxicity of nanocarriers, their interactions with biological systems, and their biodegradation/excretion.
• Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the historical journey that has paved the way for current breakthroughs in drug delivery science.
The introduction of novel formulations utilizing nanotechnologies represents a major leap forward, enhancing treatment efficacy while prioritizing patient convenience. Nanocarriers have the ability to strike a balance between efficacy and toxicity risks, traversing biological barriers with minimal invasiveness. By precisely targeting organ sites, these nanocarriers effectively reduce the toxicity and systemic side effects of drugs. Additionally, these innovative particles offer controlled or sustained release mechanisms that can be tailored to achieve the desired drug release profile.
The synergy between nanotechnology and biomaterials has opened up new frontiers in drug delivery. Various methods can be employed to mitigate toxicity by modifying the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) of individual drugs. For drugs with poor permeability, techniques such as incorporating them into nanocarriers like liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers, and other advanced materials can enhance their permeability or solubility.
However, it is also crucial to consider the potential toxicity of the nanomaterials or nanocarriers themselves. The biological interactions of nanocarriers with target and non-target cells, including interactions with phagocytic cells in the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), need to be thoroughly explored. The bio-corona of adsorbed proteins and other biomolecules may affect the biodistribution of the nanocarrier. Thus, both the pharmacokinetics of the drug and the toxicokinetics of the carrier need to be considered to successfully translate these drug delivery approaches to the clinic. Additionally, the biodegradation and/or excretion of the nanocarriers and not just the drugs, warrant detailed examination.
This Research Topic provides a dedicated platform for researchers and professionals to disseminate their latest discoveries, covering severe and prolonged effects, substance interactions, dosage-related issues, impacts on patient populations, and the potential adverse effects of nanocarriers.
This Research Topic aims to present the most recent scientific advancements and findings related to nanotechnology in drug delivery, with a focus on balancing therapeutic efficacy and the risk of toxicity. It will also emphasize the benefits of these innovations, such as organ-specific targeting, enhanced bioavailability, and comprehensive toxicological assessments. Contributions addressing methodological advancements for creating and characterizing realistic reference particles are encouraged.
Researchers and experts from diverse fields, including toxicology, pharmaceutics, and chemistry, are invited to share their insights, innovative methodologies, and cutting-edge research to enhance our understanding of drug delivery and toxicological assessments.
For this Research Topic, we invite submissions of original research, reviews, mini-reviews, methods, perspectives, community case studies, conceptual analyses, data reports, policy briefs, brief research reports, general commentaries, and opinions. The main areas to be explored in this Research Topic, but not exclusively limited to, include:
• Showcasing the evolution from traditional approaches to nanocarriers, novel formulations, and precision targeting.
• Highlighting the advantages of these innovations, including enhanced therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and comprehensive toxicological assessments.
• Exploring the integration of nanotechnology and biomaterials as crucial components in drug delivery.
• Addressing the potential toxicity of nanocarriers, their interactions with biological systems, and their biodegradation/excretion.
• Emphasizing the importance of recognizing the historical journey that has paved the way for current breakthroughs in drug delivery science.
Keywords: drug delivery, nanocarriers, toxicity
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
