ABSTRACT
Nanoparticles have been demonstrated to increase drug solubility, to protect against drug clearance and metabolism, to make alternative drug delivery routes possible, and to target specific tissues. The preparation of drug-containing liposomes usually involves the dissolution of the drug with the lipid bilayer components in a miscible solvent. Several modifications of the traditional liposomal structure can enhance the stability of liposomes, ensuring a longer duration of circulation and thus a higher efficacy in drug delivery. Micelles are spontaneously formed colloidal systems of amphipathic molecules in aqueous solutions. The use of proteins as nanoparticle drug delivery systems is another domain of increasing interest. High density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) have also been studied as potential vehicles for delivering hydrophobic drugs, but their applications remain limited, and further research is needed. Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) are colloidal systems consisting of small particles of a lipid matrix dispersed in an aqueous solution, often with the aid of surfactants.
