Volume 5, Issue 2

Nanomaterials have unique physicochemical properties, such as large surface area to mass ratio, ultra small size and high reactivity, which are different from bulk materials with the same composition. These properties can be used to overcome some limitations found in traditional therapeutic and diagnostic agents. The application of nanomaterials in medicine and pharmaceuticals is increasing rapidly and offers excellent prospects. In this review, we will provided an overview on nanomaterial developments with less toxicity and more efficacy in the fields of imaging and diagnosis, disease therapy, drug delivery and tissue engineering. In summary, although these fields are still in their infancy, the present results have clearly demonstrated enormous potential.

Nanomedicine is the most emerging, multidisciplinary field of research that is gaining popularity in recent years. Nanomedicine encompasses medical applications of nanomaterials, nanoelectronic biosensors including future applications of molecular nanotechnology. Nanomedical approaches to drug delivery, wound healing and treatment of certain diseases center on developing nanoscale particles such as sterocomplexed polymers and hydrogels or similar molecules to improve drug bioavailability. These polymers are biodegradable, bioactive, biocompatible and their strong interactions with the drug help in sustained release of the drug for longer periods. The formulation of these drugs and sterocomplexed polymers to be used as controlled drug delivery system are discussed in this tutorial review. Polymer stereocomplexes have a great promise in sustained delivery of human growth hormone, insulin, Leuprolide, Bupivacaine, Dexamethanosone, Doxorubicin, Haloperidol and vaccines. Various novel ideas of drug delivery into eye, uterus (birth control), targeted cancer therapy and brain diseases (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases).

Nanotechnology, the science of nano sized particles, has rapidly gained the spotlight in diversified areas including pharmaceutical sector. With the blessings of accurate drug designing and better pharmacological action, it has entered the pharmaceutical arena bringing promising discoveries along with it. Nanoemulsion is one of the greatest and advantageous dosage forms with the application of nanotechnology in pharmaceutical formulations. Very small size droplets of the nanoemulsion favor better drug absorption and targeting. It not only improves the conventional emulsion systems but also opens new opportunities for other drugs to be designed more precisely with better bioavailability and accurate dosing rendering minimum side effects. This article depicts various advantageous features of nanoemulsions delineating different methods of preparation. The foci of this review also include the opportunities of other drugs to be formulated through nanoemulsification in order to ensure better therapeutic effect. The summary shows recent researches on nanoemulsion formulation from different classes of drugs as well as some formulations based on nanoemulsion templates. The methods of preparing nanoparticles, characterized by nanoemulsion templates, have also been discussed which, as a whole, presents the best possibilities of nanoemulsions.