Nanomedicine and Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems
Summary
Nanomedicine leverages materials at the nanoscale—typically between 1 and 100 nanometres—to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. By tailoring size, surface chemistry and payload, nanoparticle drug delivery systems can enhance solubility, prolong circulation times and achieve site-specific targeting via passive mechanisms such as the enhanced permeation and retention effect, or active strategies involving surface ligands. Common platforms include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles and inorganic carriers, each offering distinct advantages in encapsulating small molecules, proteins or nucleic acids. These systems have transformed oncology, infectious disease management and vaccine development, exemplified by the rapid deployment of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA vaccines. Key challenges in the field encompass reproducible large-scale manufacturing, rigorous characterisation of critical quality attributes, biocompatibility, long-term safety and environmental impact. Ongoing efforts focus on stimuli-responsive materials, multifunctional ‘theranostic’ constructs that combine therapy with diagnostic imaging, and strategies to overcome biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier. The global significance of nanomedicine is underscored by its contribution to precision medicine, enabling lower therapeutic dosages, reduced off-target toxicity and new modalities for gene and immune therapies.
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Nanomedicine and Nanoparticle Drug Delivery Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanomedicine and nanoparticle drug delivery systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanoparticle: A particle sized between 1 and 100 nanometres used to carry therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
Liposome: A spherical vesicle composed of one or more phospholipid bilayers capable of encapsulating hydrophilic or lipophilic drugs.
Lipid Nanoparticle: A carrier formed from solid or liquid lipids, often employed for nucleic acid delivery due to high biocompatibility and endosomal escape properties.
Enhanced Permeation and Retention (EPR) effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumour tissue owing to leaky vasculature and impaired lymphatic drainage.
Critical Quality Attribute (CQA): A measurable property or characteristic of a drug product that must be controlled to ensure safety, efficacy and consistency.
References
- Nanotechnology in healthcare, and its safety and environmental risks. Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2024).
- Orthogonal and complementary measurements of properties of drug products containing nanomaterials. Journal of Controlled Release (2023).
- Nanoparticles in Clinical Trials: Analysis of Clinical Trials, FDA Approvals and Use for COVID-19 Vaccines. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
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