Advancing Nanoparticle Technology Creating Opportunities For Drug Developers

Advances in nanotechnology that enable drugs to be delivered in ways that preserve their efficacy and to precise therapeutic targets are creating a host of opportunities for drug developers. A variety of nanostructures are being investigated as functional drug carriers for a wide range of therapies, most notably cardiovascular medicine, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.

"While the concept of nanoparticles in drug delivery is not new, the number of research programs and active drug development projects has escalated as funding to nanotechnology developers has increased," explains George Perros, Greystone Managing Director. "The result is the emergence of a host of novel nanotechnologies tailored to meet the physicochemical requirements of drug developers."

Nanoparticles have already improved the availability and efficacy of some drugs, but the capabilities that evolving technologies possess will leads to a dramatic increase in the number of therapies delivered via nanoparticles. In many cases drugs in nanocrystalline form can be administered in smaller doses because they can be delivered directly to the tissue and in controlled doses related to the patient's personal requirements.

These findings are contained in a new and comprehensive report: Nanoparticle Drug Delivery: Technology, Therapies, and Prospects. The survey concludes that nanoparticle-based drug delivery will gain traction at the expense of traditional drug formulation methods, particularly among emerging biologics.