Comprehensive Analysis: Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery Systems

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery systems. It begins by highlighting the advantages of nanotechnology in improving the pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications of conventional drugs, including controlled release, specific targeting, and reduced side effects. The report then delves into specific applications of nanotechnology, such as in cancer chemotherapy using modified Nanocarriers to target tumor cells. It discusses the use of nanotechnology in vaccine administration, enhancing both humoral and cell-mediated immunities, and in gene delivery systems, particularly the use of AuNPs. The report also explores the use of liposomes, solid-lipid matrixes, and dendrimers in drug delivery, emphasizing their roles in improving drug solubility, stability, and encapsulation. Furthermore, it touches upon the application of nanotechnology in treating influenza using virosomes. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of nanotechnology in making drug delivery more efficient and effective, paving the way for advancements in disease treatment.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 1
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APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 2
The adoption of nanotechnology in drug delivery is the stepping stone for technology
breakthrough. The Nanocarriers used in the delivery systems serve to improve the
pharmaceutical and therapeutical application of conventional drugs. Another advantage is that
drugs loaded in the Nanocarrier particles are protected from possible controlled release, specific
targeting, and enzymatic degradation. Moreover the drug conjugates for Nano-carriers exhibit
specificity and effectiveness thus the accumulation of the drugs at target sites reduces the
possible side effects and toxicity in the tissues. As a result, the dosages of drugs tend to be
reduced Park (2013, pg. 7442-7447). Different nanoparticles utilized in drug delivery systems
include liposomes, virosomes, and polylactic-co-glycolic acid.
First, nanotechnology has been used in the delivery of cytotoxic drugs to specific tumor
cells in cancer chemotherapy. These counters the poor diffusions and selectivity properties of
anticancer drugs. In most cases, the Nanocarriers are modified to be compatible with specific
ligands capable of selectively interacting with surface markers of the target tumor cells
Wanigasekara and Witharana (2016, pg. 78-91). Currently, discoveries regarding active targeting
using carcinogenic molecular targets and Monoclonal antibodies have been utilized in surface
targeting of the desired epitopes hence linked covalently to targeted cancer drugs. These MABs-
immunoconjugates have so far been used in delivering the drugs to targeted specific tumors that
cause cancer. The same approach has been used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia an
example being the Mylotarg, humanized antibody-calicheamicin conjugate.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 3
Nanotechnology in the administration of vaccines has enhanced drug adjuvants in
improving both humoral and cell-mediated immunities by leveraging the delivery of antigens to
immune cells. The nanoparticle size is crucial in vivo biodistribution of the drugs and
influencing mechanisms of cellular immunity like endocytosis and phagocytosis. In addition,
nanoparticles used in nanotechnology facilitates interactions of the vaccine antigens with the
APCs, Antigen Presenting Cells thus overcoming limitations of immunotherapy impacts Sahoo
et.al (2017, pg. 73-124). These effects range from the instability of macromolecules to poor
interactions with the antigen presenting cells.
In gene delivery systems, AuNPs have been used due to their possibility of carrying
diverse payloads like biomolecules and small drug molecules. Adjustable optical features of
surfaces of AuNPs makes it a prominent property of drug release by internal or external stimuli.
Deliveries using external stimuli involves manipulation of photo-mediated release based on light
administration to photo cleavages of the particles Calixto et. al (2016, pg.342). This serves to
activate the drug, an approach demonstrated in 5-fluorouracil functionalized AuNPs. Owing to
the demonstration, almost 60% payloads of doxorubicin was capable of being loaded to the
hollow Nanospheres of gold due to molecule adsorption to both outer and inner surfaces via
electrostatic attractions. These doxorubicin loaded AuNPs are able to reverse resistance of cancer
cells to the administered drugs. To account for these, a platinum-tethered AuNP system was
designed bearing oxaliplatin active compound as the molecule of platinum.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 4
The system’s platform was tested in colorectal and lung cancer cells hence exhibiting
more cytotoxic impacts as compared to only oxaliplatin. It also demonstrated a higher active
compound accumulation in cancer cells capable of reaching the nucleus for possible interactions
with DNA hence a good characteristic of good systems for drug delivery. On the other side,
liposomes used in nanotechnology have been applied in the increment of solubility levels of
drugs and improvement of their pharmacokinetic features. These properties include increased
anticancer activity and reduced side effects where factors like osmotic gradient, PH and liposome
composition influences the release of the drug from the Nanocarrier.
Nanotechnology-based on solid-lipid matrixes like nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)
and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) has been effectively applied in dermal, rectal, parenteral
pulmonary and ocular routes of drug administration. This approach provides good tolerance and
stability to the drugs in turn protecting the drugs from controlled release and possible
degradation. Dendrimer encapsulation of drugs either chemically or physically has been used in
delivering labile, toxic and less soluble drugs. In these case, the number of covalent bonds
between the drug and the dendrimer is controlled by chemical bonds thus controlling the amount
of drug encapsulated. The surface of the dendrimer provides a platform for the attachment of
specific ligands such as PEG, folic acid and antibodies made possible by the selectivity level
expressed by the method Hughes (2017, pg. 47-72). Drugs like heparin, cisplatin, and diclofenac
have been best delivered using mesoporous and xerogels, sol-gel formulated silica materials.
General advantages of this are biocompatibility, improved function, and high porosity levels.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 5
Moreover, nanotechnology facilitated by Nano vaccines has been used in the treatment of
influenza disease using inflexible V virosomes. Two influenza glycoproteins, neuraminidase, and
hemagglutinin (HA) are integrated on a surface of a liposome through electrostatic interaction or
covalent bonding hence increasing the chances of APCs processing and antigen capturing. The
fusion of HA glycoproteins with the membranes of the endosomes contributes to the high
immunotherapeutic impact hence prevents the destruction of class I presented antigens Rizvi and
Saleh (2018, pg.64-70). In conclusion, it is clear that without the use of nanotechnology, drug
delivery through the use of therapeutics like small particles and nucleic acids in the treatment of
diseases could be cumbersome and less efficient hence more incurred effects.

APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY 6
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Park, K., 2013. Facing the truth about nanotechnology in drug delivery. ACS nano, 7(9),
pp.7442-7447.
Wanigasekara, J. and Witharana, C., 2016. Applications of nanotechnology in drug delivery and
design-an insight. Current Trends in Biotechnology & Pharmacy, 10(1), pp.78-91.
Hughes, G.A., 2017. Nanostructure-mediated drug delivery. In Nanomedicine in Cancer (pp. 47-
72). Pan Stanford.
Calixto, G., Bernegossi, J., de Freitas, L., Fontana, C. and Chorilli, M., 2016. Nanotechnology-
based drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy of cancer: a review. Molecules, 21(3),
p.342.
Sahoo, S.K., Misra, R. and Parveen, S., 2017. Nanoparticles: a boon to drug delivery,
therapeutics, diagnostics and imaging. In Nanomedicine in Cancer (pp. 73-124). Pan Stanford.
Rizvi, S.A. and Saleh, A.M., 2018. Applications of nanoparticle systems in drug delivery
technology. Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 26(1), pp.64-70.