Drug Delivery Systems Using Nanoparticle Carriers
Summary
Drug delivery systems based on nanoparticle carriers have transformed therapeutic strategies by enhancing the precision, efficacy and safety of a wide range of pharmaceuticals. At the core of these systems are engineered particles—ranging from lipid‐based vesicles to polymeric nanospheres—designed to encapsulate active compounds, protect them from degradation, and release them at the intended site of action. By tuning size, surface chemistry and mechanical properties, researchers can influence circulation time, cellular uptake and tissue distribution, thereby minimising off‐target effects and improving patient outcomes. Liposomal formulations, polymeric nanoparticles and solid lipid constructs each present unique advantages: liposomes offer biocompatibility and facile drug loading, polymeric systems enable controlled release kinetics, and hybrid materials combine multiple functionalities. Targeting moieties such as antibodies, peptides or small molecules further refine specificity, while stimuli‐responsive designs (pH, temperature or enzymatic triggers) provide on‐demand release. Together, these innovations address global challenges in oncology, infectious disease and chronic conditions, laying the groundwork for next‐generation personalised therapies.
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Recent reviews have emphasised the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with nanoparticle development to accelerate design and optimise performance. Innovative workflows now employ machine learning to predict stability, biodistribution and release profiles, reducing experimental burden and guiding rational formulation. This AI-driven paradigm has led to bespoke nanocarriers tailored for complex cargos such as nucleic acids and combination therapies, marking a shift towards data‐informed nanomedicine.
Advances in high‐resolution imaging techniques have yielded unprecedented insight into carrier morphology and drug localisation at the single‐particle level. Quantitative cryogenic transmission electron microscopy has been used to characterise clinically established formulations, revealing heterogeneity in shape and internal structure that correlates with release behaviour. Such detailed structural maps inform the fine‐tuning of lipid composition and drug‐to‐carrier ratios, thereby enhancing batch consistency and therapeutic index.
Seminal work on clinically used liposomal vehicles continues to underscore their translational value. Updated reviews of liposomal platforms highlight steady progress in stealth technologies and multivesicular systems, which extend circulation half‐life and enable sustained release. These formulations have been successfully applied to deliver anticancer agents, antifungals and biologics, demonstrating improved efficacy in tumour models and enabling the clinical approval of novel nano‐drugs.
Drug Delivery Systems Using Nanoparticle Carriers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in drug delivery systems using nanoparticle carriers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Liposome: A spherical vesicle composed of one or more phospholipid bilayers, used to encapsulate aqueous or lipophilic drugs.
Polymeric nanoparticle: A solid colloidal particle formed from biodegradable polymers, designed for controlled drug release.
PEGylation: The attachment of polyethylene glycol chains to a nanoparticle surface to reduce immunogenicity and extend circulation time.
Stimuli‐responsive carrier: A nanocarrier engineered to release its payload in response to specific environmental triggers such as pH or enzymatic activity.
Biodistribution: The distribution of a drug or carrier throughout the body’s tissues and organs following administration.
References
- Liposomal Formulations in Clinical Use: An Updated Review. Pharmaceutics (2017).
- Nanocarrier Drug Delivery Systems: Characterization, Limitations, Future Perspectives and Implementation of Artificial Intelligence. Pharmaceutics (2022).
- Quantitative Cryo-TEM Reveals New Structural Details of Doxil-Like PEGylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Formulation. Pharmaceutics (2021).
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