ABSTRACT
Delivery of many drugs and biomolecules to the target site is quite challenging owing to the difference in biopharmaceutical properties such as hydrophilicity, high molecular weight, and chemical and enzymatic stability. Considering this fact, surface engineering of nanocarriers has been chosen for effective. as well as selective, delivery of drug molecules. On this front, various approaches such as ligand-based, stimuli-responsive, and metals-based approaches have been explored for targeted delivery of various nanostructured systems. These engineered nanosystems bind to the signature molecules, overexpressed at the diseased site via ligands, aptamers, monoclonal antibodies, and due to physiological, chemical, or biochemical conditions at the target site such as pH, redox potential, and ion activation. A variety of biopharmaceuticals, including anticancers, antivirals, antihypertensives, and neuroprotectives have been engineered for modulated pharmacokinetic attributes, enhanced drug accumulation, minimized side effects, and improved bioavailability, together with the additional advantage of surface modification of nanosystems. The current chapter summarizes the surface-engineering strategies of diverse pharmaceutical agents for their enhanced biomedical applications.
