ABSTRACT
Keywords: polymer, drug release, cancer, targeting, biodistribution, thera-peutics, immune interaction, drug delivery, nanoprecipitation, copolymer, biocompatibility, micelles, dendrimers
nanomedicine is clearly at the forefront of a new era of medical technology.One of the main themes employed in nanomedicine is the concept of enhanced control and specificity. While traditional therapeutic agents have allowed for very little control in terms of where they are distributed in the body and how fast they are cleared, engineering at the nanoscale has allowed for significant advances in optimizing the biocompatibility, biodistribution, and pharmacokinetics of various medical technologies. For example, devices can be created that release drugs and other therapeutic agents in a controlled manner, resulting in prolonged and enhanced therapeutic effects. In addition, nanoscale manipulations allow for the development of therapeutic products that target and localize to the area of a particular disease, increasing both the safety and effectiveness of the therapeutic agent, while at the same time minimizing unpleasant side effects.One prominent example of controlled delivery and release is the use of polymeric nanoparticles containing chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer (Fig. 42.1). In contrast to larger particles, nanoparticles have longer retention times in the body and can penetrate tumors more effectively [1, 2]. Nanoscale drug carriers have shown a remarkable ability to maintain an optimal drug release profile while localizing at the tumor site, minimizing deleterious effects on healthy tissues. Other nanoparticulate structures, such as liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, and metal nanoparticles, have also been evaluated for enhanced drug delivery applications.
