ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of current approaches of formulating nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems for the management of four common groups of chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs), namely arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic airway inflammation, and uveitis. Characteristics and design requisites of nanocarriers for CIDs, in vivo challenges against their delivery, and passive and active targeting strategies are also discussed. It is noteworthy that the strategies involving the development of an appropriate drug delivery system in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are challenging and quite different, depending on the inflamed region in the intestines. Furthermore, drug formulation as nano-based systems may be an efficient approach to override delivery challenges and provide sustained drug delivery in CLIDs. Intensive work has been done with the aim of optimizing nanocarrier geometry and surface characteristics, leading to the development of multifunctional nanoparticulate drug delivery vehicles, which combine several strategies for drug targeting and release.
