Applications of NanotechnologyApplications of Nanotechnology

Targeted Drug DeliveryTargeted Drug Delivery

Nanoparticles for Drug DeliveryNanoparticles for Drug Delivery

Metal-based nanoparticlesMetal-based nanoparticles

Lipid-based nanoparticlesLipid-based nanoparticles

Polymer-based nanoparticlesPolymer-based nanoparticles

Biological nanoparticlesBiological nanoparticles

NanobiopharmaceuticalsNanobiopharmaceuticals

In biopharmaceuticals, in addition to the main biopharmaceuticals, in addition to the main technologies covered-liposomal, monoclonal technologies covered-liposomal, monoclonal antibody-based, and polymer-based antibody-based, and polymer-based technologies host of newer technologies such technologies host of newer technologies such as nanoparticles including various as nanoparticles including various nanodimensional entities such as molecular nanodimensional entities such as molecular imprinted polymers, metallofullerenes, prodrug imprinted polymers, metallofullerenes, prodrug delivery, oral, injectable and implantable, delivery, oral, injectable and implantable, pulmonary, and transdermal and transmucosal pulmonary, and transdermal and transmucosal delivery have come updelivery have come up..

Drug Delivery Technology Important to Drug Delivery Technology Important to Pharma IndustryPharma Industry

Drug delivery formulations involve low cost research Drug delivery formulations involve low cost research compared that for discovery of new molecule, compared that for discovery of new molecule,

Minimizing the drug use would significantly reduce the Minimizing the drug use would significantly reduce the effective cost of drug which would give financial relief to effective cost of drug which would give financial relief to the patients, the patients,

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Delivery systems increase commercial opportunity by distinguishing a drug from competitive threats posed by “me too” drugs and

Novel means of delivery particularly using nano-carriers, can allow branded drugs to be rescued from abyss of generic competition (may be called “resurrection of drug”).

SOME SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF SOME SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF NANODEVICESNANODEVICES

Development of one dose a day ciprofloxacin using Development of one dose a day ciprofloxacin using nanotechnologynanotechnology

Tumor targeted taxol delivery using nanoparticles in Tumor targeted taxol delivery using nanoparticles in Phase 2 clinical trial stagePhase 2 clinical trial stage

Improved ophthalmic delivery formulation using Improved ophthalmic delivery formulation using smart hydrogel nanoparticlessmart hydrogel nanoparticles

Oral insulin formulation using nanoparticles carriers.Oral insulin formulation using nanoparticles carriers.

Liposomal based Amphotericin B formulationLiposomal based Amphotericin B formulation

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

Prevention of drug from biological Prevention of drug from biological degradationdegradation

Effective TargetingEffective Targeting

Patient CompliancePatient Compliance

Cost effectivenessCost effectiveness

Product life extensionProduct life extension

PRIORITY AREASPRIORITY AREAS

Cancer NanotechnologyCancer Nanotechnology

(i) (i) Diagnosis using Quantum Diagnosis using Quantum DotsDots

(ii) Tumor Targeted Delivery(ii) Tumor Targeted Delivery

(iii) (iii) ImagingImaging

(iv) Cancer Gene Therapy(iv) Cancer Gene Therapy

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DNA Vaccines for parasitic, bacterial DNA Vaccines for parasitic, bacterial and viral diseasesand viral diseases

Oral and pulmonary routes for Oral and pulmonary routes for systemic systemic deliverydelivery of proteins and of proteins and peptidespeptides

Nanotechnology in Tissue EngineeringNanotechnology in Tissue Engineering

Drug Delivery CarriersDrug Delivery Carriers

Targeting LigandsTargeting Ligands

Liposome'sLiposome's

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Their exterior lipid bilayer is very chemically reactive, thereby providing a Their exterior lipid bilayer is very chemically reactive, thereby providing a means to conveniently couple “tags” on a covalent basis.  means to conveniently couple “tags” on a covalent basis. 

Such “tags” can be antibodies, antigens, cell receptors, nucleic acid Such “tags” can be antibodies, antigens, cell receptors, nucleic acid probes, etc. probes, etc. 

This provides significant versatility in assay formats (i.e., immunoassay, This provides significant versatility in assay formats (i.e., immunoassay, receptor-based, nucleic acid probe, etc.) possible. receptor-based, nucleic acid probe, etc.) possible. 

With  diameters ranging in size from approximately 50 nm to 800 nm, their With  diameters ranging in size from approximately 50 nm to 800 nm, their aqueous core encapsulates up to millions of molecules of signal generating aqueous core encapsulates up to millions of molecules of signal generating “markers” that can be detected in a variety of different way. “markers” that can be detected in a variety of different way. 

      A variety of different encapsulants are possible including visually A variety of different encapsulants are possible including visually detectable dyes (since the lipid bilayer is transparent), optically and detectable dyes (since the lipid bilayer is transparent), optically and fluorometrically detectable dyes, enzymes, and electroactive compounds. fluorometrically detectable dyes, enzymes, and electroactive compounds. 

This provides significant versatility in the detection schemes possible.This provides significant versatility in the detection schemes possible.

NiosomesNiosomes

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Niosomes, non-ionic surfactant vesicles, are widely studied Niosomes, non-ionic surfactant vesicles, are widely studied as an alternative to liposomesas an alternative to liposomes

These vesicles appear to be similar to liposomes in terms of These vesicles appear to be similar to liposomes in terms of their physical propertiestheir physical properties

They are also prepared in the same way and under a They are also prepared in the same way and under a variety of conditions, from unilamellar or multilamellar variety of conditions, from unilamellar or multilamellar structures.structures.

Niosomes alleviate the disadvantages associated with Niosomes alleviate the disadvantages associated with liposomes, such as chemical instability, variable purity of liposomes, such as chemical instability, variable purity of phospholipids and high cost.phospholipids and high cost.

They have the potential for controlled and targated drug They have the potential for controlled and targated drug deliverydelivery

Niosomes enhanced the penetration of drugsNiosomes enhanced the penetration of drugs

NanopowderNanopowder

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Nanopowders are powders composed of Nanopowders are powders composed of nanoparticles, that is particles having an average nanoparticles, that is particles having an average diameter below 50 nanometers (nm). diameter below 50 nanometers (nm).

A jar of a true nanopowder when emptied from A jar of a true nanopowder when emptied from chest height to toward the floor will disperse into chest height to toward the floor will disperse into the air before reaching the floor. the air before reaching the floor.

Most manufacturers of “nanopowders” produce Most manufacturers of “nanopowders” produce micropowder assemblies of nanoparticles but the micropowder assemblies of nanoparticles but the powder itself is rarely a nanopowder. powder itself is rarely a nanopowder.

Such compounds have two or more different Such compounds have two or more different cations (positively charged elements) in their cations (positively charged elements) in their chemical formula. An example of a complex chemical formula. An example of a complex compound is calcium titanate (CaTiO3).compound is calcium titanate (CaTiO3).

NanoclusterNanocluster

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One of the central themes in nanoscience One of the central themes in nanoscience research is to synthesize high quality research is to synthesize high quality nanoparticles with precise control over nanoparticles with precise control over particle size, shape, structure, and particle size, shape, structure, and composition. composition.

For inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. metal and For inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. metal and semiconductor), two regimes are of semiconductor), two regimes are of particular interest, that is, nanoclusters in particular interest, that is, nanoclusters in a size range from subnanometer to ~2 nm a size range from subnanometer to ~2 nm and nanocrystals (typically 2-100 nm).and nanocrystals (typically 2-100 nm).

NanocrystalsNanocrystals

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When the size of the material is reduced to less than 100 When the size of the material is reduced to less than 100 nanometers, the realm of quantum physics takes over and nanometers, the realm of quantum physics takes over and materials begin to demonstrate entirely new properties. materials begin to demonstrate entirely new properties.

Nano-design of drugs by various techniques like milling, Nano-design of drugs by various techniques like milling, high pressure homogenization, controlled precipitation etc., high pressure homogenization, controlled precipitation etc., are explored to produce, drug nanocrystals, nanoparticles, are explored to produce, drug nanocrystals, nanoparticles, nanoprecipitates, nanosuspensions (which for ease of nanoprecipitates, nanosuspensions (which for ease of understanding commonly mentioned as nanocrystals).  understanding commonly mentioned as nanocrystals).  

As decreased size will increase the solubility of drugs As decreased size will increase the solubility of drugs hence, this technology is explored to increase oral hence, this technology is explored to increase oral bioavailability of sparingly water soluble drugs.bioavailability of sparingly water soluble drugs.

MicelleMicelle

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Micelle is an aggregate of amphipathic molecules in water, with Micelle is an aggregate of amphipathic molecules in water, with the nonpolar portions in the interior and the polar portions at the the nonpolar portions in the interior and the polar portions at the exterior surface, exposed to water. exterior surface, exposed to water.

Amphiphilic molecules form micelle above a particular Amphiphilic molecules form micelle above a particular concentration which is called as critical micellar concentration concentration which is called as critical micellar concentration (CMC).  (CMC).  

Micelles are known to have an anisotropic water distribution within Micelles are known to have an anisotropic water distribution within their structure, means  water concentration decreases from the their structure, means  water concentration decreases from the surface towards the core of the micelle, with a completely surface towards the core of the micelle, with a completely hydrophobic (water-excluded) core. hydrophobic (water-excluded) core.

Hydrophobic drugs can be encapsulated/solubalized, into inner Hydrophobic drugs can be encapsulated/solubalized, into inner core. core.

The spatial position of a solubilized drug in a micelle will depend The spatial position of a solubilized drug in a micelle will depend on its polarity, nonpolar molecules will be solubilized in the on its polarity, nonpolar molecules will be solubilized in the micellar core, and substances with intermediate polarity will be micellar core, and substances with intermediate polarity will be distributed along the surfactant molecules in certain intermediatedistributed along the surfactant molecules in certain intermediate

DendrimersDendrimers

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These branched macromolecules are constructed These branched macromolecules are constructed around a simple core unit. around a simple core unit.

Dendrimers have a high degree of molecular Dendrimers have a high degree of molecular uniformity, narrow molecular weight distribution, uniformity, narrow molecular weight distribution, specific size and shape characteristics, and a specific size and shape characteristics, and a highly- functionalized highly- functionalized terminal surface. terminal surface.

The manufacturing process is a series of The manufacturing process is a series of repetitive steps repetitive steps starting with a central initiator core. Each starting with a central initiator core. Each subsequent growth step represents a new subsequent growth step represents a new "generation" of polymer with a larger molecular "generation" of polymer with a larger molecular diameter, twice the number of reactive surface diameter, twice the number of reactive surface sites, and approximately double the molecular sites, and approximately double the molecular weight of the preceding generation.weight of the preceding generation.

Polymeric NanoparticlesPolymeric Nanoparticles

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In recent years, biodegradable In recent years, biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles have polymeric nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention as attracted considerable attention as potential drug delivery devices in potential drug delivery devices in view of their applications in drug view of their applications in drug targeting to particular organs/tissues, targeting to particular organs/tissues, as carriers of DNA as carriers of DNA in gene therapy, and in their ability in gene therapy, and in their ability to deliver proteins, peptides and to deliver proteins, peptides and genes genes through a per oral route of through a per oral route of administration.administration.

Carbon 60Carbon 60

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C60 are spherical molecules about 1nm in C60 are spherical molecules about 1nm in diameter, comprising 60 carbon atoms diameter, comprising 60 carbon atoms arranged as 20 hexagons and 12 arranged as 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons: the configuration of a football. pentagons: the configuration of a football.

Hence they find application as Hence they find application as NanoPharmaceuticals with large drug NanoPharmaceuticals with large drug payload in their cage like structure. payload in their cage like structure.

On the other hand with development of On the other hand with development of various chemical substitutes for C60, it is various chemical substitutes for C60, it is possible to develop functionalized C60 possible to develop functionalized C60 with better drug targeting properties with better drug targeting properties

Carbon NanotubeCarbon Nanotube

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Carbon nanotubes are adept at entering Carbon nanotubes are adept at entering the nuclei of cells and may one day be the nuclei of cells and may one day be used to deliver drugs and vaccines. used to deliver drugs and vaccines.

The modified nanotubes have so far only The modified nanotubes have so far only been used to ferry a small peptide into the been used to ferry a small peptide into the nuclei of fibroblast cells. nuclei of fibroblast cells.

But the researchers are hopeful that the But the researchers are hopeful that the technique may one day form the basis for technique may one day form the basis for new anti-cancer treatments, gene new anti-cancer treatments, gene therapies and vaccines.therapies and vaccines.

Equipments for NanoparticlesEquipments for Nanoparticles

HomogenizerUltra SonicatorMillsSpray MillingSupercritical Fluid TechnologyElectrosprayUltracentrifugationNanofiltration

Homogenizer & Ultra SonicatorHomogenizer & Ultra Sonicator

Methods of Drug DeliveryMethods of Drug Delivery