Nanoparticle mediated drug delivery – the way of the future

Srishti Deb, Amity University, Kolkata

Nanoparticle: Technobiology’s wireless messenger –

With the advancement of science and modern technologies, a more promising technology of drug delivery to selective tissues is used. This is a more potent targeted delivery process of therapeutic agents, that significantly eliminates drug or drug carrier side effects. Drug design and drug delivery to selected targets to improve pharmacodynamic are known as nanopharmacology. This is designed to achieve the prolonged therapeutic effect by constantly releasing medication over a considerately longer period, with the administration of one dosage. 

The necessity for nanoparticle-based drug production – Some of the medicines that we take, can be lost in the way of reaching its target. For example, the acidic environment of our stomach can degrade the drug.  To cross the intestinal wall, it has to be small and chemically fit. Liver, that’s responsible for eliminating harmful effects of medication, the enzymes in there can degrade the drug. Nanoparticles loaded with drugs can successfully reach the target cells without being degraded. 

According to the international union of pure and applied chemistry, a particle of any shape with a dimension ranging from 1nm to 100nm can be termed as a nanoparticle. Nano comes from the Greek word “Nanos”, which means dwarf or small.

Now, the question arises, despite having micro and macroparticles, why should we use nanoparticles? This is because small particles have certain advantages over bulk particles. Surface area increases as size decreases. So nanoparticles –

• Travel faster
• Much lighter in weight than the bulk molecules
• Can get into smaller spaces easily (For example, some of the anti-cancer drugs are unable to get into the mammalian cells due to bigger size, but the nanoparticles can easily get into the tumour locations)
• When the size is small, it has more reactivity (i.e. it efficiently interacts with the surrounding materials and give a comparatively faster effect ) and will have more catalytic activity (excellent low-temperature catalyst) 

These are small particles used to solve big problems and save millions of lives and money.

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery system to fight cancer–

A nanoparticle is filled with our cancer drug and a targeting ligand is attached to its surface. Then the nanoparticle is injected into the bloodstream. Nanoparticles can’t attack the healthy cells because of the tight junction blood vessels which prevent nanoparticles from reaching the healthy cells. All the cancer cells have a receptor-ligand on their surface and are surrounded by leaky blood vessels, which helps the nanoparticles get access to the cancer cells. As the nanoparticles reach the cancer cells, the targeting ligand on its surface binds to the receptor-ligand on the surface of the cancer cells, by crossing the leaky barrier to kill the harmful cancer cells. As anticancer treatments, chemotherapy and radiation therapy should not be used as it damaged the other healthy cells along with the tumour cells. Instead, a targeted cell drug delivery system using nanoparticles should be used, which is much safer and efficient in today’s world. 

Nanoparticle in HIV and AIDS Treatment – 

We do have a treatment for AIDS, but the patient needs to have several pills in a day. Moreover, we are not sure whether the drug reaches its destination – HIV reservoir organ-like Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery is an efficient way of treatment in this too. Medicine available in the market is taken and formulated in such a way that it is small in size and sustainable in the biological environment – Nano drug is prepared. This nano-drug will survive the stomach digestion and reach the intestine, and then it will release the drug because of the pH difference. Once the drug is released, it will directly attach to the Microfold cells (M cells) of GALT, following that the M cells will take up the drug and transfer it to the immune cells of GALT. 

Nanoparticle in diagnostic testing: for an accurate diagnosis – 

Emphysema can be diagnosed by using nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have a high ability to penetrate through the peripheral regions of the lungs due to its size. Compared to current diagnostic techniques like x-ray, computer tomography, c t scan, or MRI with hyperpolarized gases, nanoparticle-mediated diagnostic processes are cheaper, easier to use, and interpret.

Today, nanomaterials are used in various fields and different commercially available products such as – 

• Healthcare – drug delivery, anti-bacterial bandages
• Cosmetics – Sunscreens
• Electronics – Nanostructured semiconductors which show nonlinear optical properties (also exhibit luminescence)
• Agriculture – Nano fertilizers and nano pesticides
• Food sector – Food packaging and food sensing

Thus we conclude that nanotechnology in medicine has opened doors to better treatment and faster diagnosis of diseases. Drugs can be delivered with greater precision to those areas of the body which are difficult to access. Further researches in this field will contribute to a healthy world by decreasing the mortality rate.

Although nanoparticles are so useful and efficient, it is important to have toxicological studies and risk assessment of nanomaterials before using them. To reduce its potential impact on health and the environment, it is important to have a safety design approach in the development.

Also read:Turbinmicin- A New Fighter

Reference:

Jin, S., & Ye, K. (2007). Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and gene therapy. Biotechnology Progress, 23(1), 32–41. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp060348j

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