ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the techniques to produce nanoparticles and nanocapsules, and to classify them based on the polymer properties and their ability to encapsulate different types of drugs. A major effect in the pharmaceutical field has been caused by the use of colloidal dispersions of biodegradable polymers as nanoparticulate drug carriers. While taking into account the high potential of polymeric colloidal suspensions as drug carriers, the purpose of the present chapter will be to review those made of polymers that are considered biodegradable and biocompatible. Water-soluble drugs may be associated with poly(alkylcyanoacrylates) nanospheres either by dissolving the drug in the aqueous polymerization medium or by incubating blank nanospheres in an aqueous solution of the drug. Solvent extraction-evaporation techniques have been applied to mainly the encapsulation of lipophilic drugs, which can be dissolved in the polymer solution. The technologies of producing colloidal dispersions from nonbiodegradable polymers have a relative short history in the pharmaceutical field.
