Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Biomedical Applications
Summary
Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems harness engineered particles, typically in the 1–100 nanometre range, to transport therapeutic agents with enhanced precision, stability and efficacy. Lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanocarriers and inorganic nanostructures each offer distinct advantages: lipid systems excel at encapsulating nucleic acids and hydrophobic small molecules, polymeric platforms permit controlled degradation and release kinetics, while inorganic cores can facilitate imaging and stimulus-responsive action. Key parameters such as particle size, surface charge and hydrophobicity dictate circulation time, biodistribution and cellular uptake. Surface functionalisation with polyethylene glycol or targeting ligands can minimise immune clearance and enable active recognition of diseased tissues. Passive targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention effect complements ligand-mediated delivery, together improving drug accumulation at tumour sites, across the blood–brain barrier or within inflamed tissues. Encapsulation efficiency and release profiles are tailored by choice of materials and fabrication methods, from solvent evaporation and nanoprecipitation to self-assembly techniques. Clinically approved systems, such as liposomal doxorubicin and mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles, underscore the translational impact of this field. Current challenges include large-scale reproducibility, long-term safety, and navigating biological barriers, yet ongoing advances in multifunctional design promise to expand applications in oncology, infectious disease, gene therapy and immunomodulation worldwide.
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Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Biomedical Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems in biomedical applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanoparticle: A particle with dimensions in the 1–100 nm range, used to transport therapeutic or diagnostic agents.
Lipid nanoparticle: A vesicular or particulate system composed of lipids for encapsulating drugs or nucleic acids, offering biocompatibility and efficient cellular uptake.
Active targeting: Functionalisation of nanoparticle surfaces with ligands to bind specific receptors on target cells, enhancing uptake.
Passive targeting: Accumulation of nanoparticles in certain tissues via physiological phenomena such as the enhanced permeability and retention effect.
Encapsulation efficiency: The proportion of drug successfully loaded into a nanoparticle relative to the amount initially used in formulation.
Controlled release: The modulation of drug release kinetics from nanoparticles to achieve sustained or stimuli-responsive delivery.
Biocompatibility: The ability of a material to perform with an appropriate host response when applied as intended.
References
- Development of a concentration‐controlled sequential nanoprecipitation for making lipid nanoparticles with high drug loading. Aggregate (2023).
- Revolutionizing Cancer Immunotherapy: Emerging Nanotechnology-Driven Drug Delivery Systems for Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy. ACS Measurement Science Au (2024).
- Lipid-Based Nanoparticles: Application and Recent Advances in Cancer Treatment. Nanomaterials (2019).
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