ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the application of nanoparticles as drug carriers. One of the major obstacles to drug efficacy is the nonspecific distribution of the biologically active compound after administration. Nanospheres are matrix systems in which the drug is dispersed within the polymer throughout the particle. The most likely mechanism is endocytosis by the endothelial cells lining the blood capillaries of the brain. Efforts have been made to achieve molecular addressing of nanoparticles. This approach consists of the decoration of the nanoparticle surface with the aid of molecules able to recognize a biological target. Oral administration of peptides is another important challenge for nanotechnologies. The capacity of insulin nanocapsules to reduce glycemia could be explained by their translocation through the intestinal barrier by the paracellular pathway or via M cells in Peyer’s patches. The development of new vaccines is another application of nanotechnologies by the oral route.
