UNIT-5-Nanomedicine and Nanodrug Delivery Systems

-

Nanomedicine and Nanodrug Delivery Systems

1. Nanomedicine

Nanomedicine is the application of nanotechnology in medicine for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. It uses nanoparticles (1–100 nm) to deliver drugs more effectively to specific sites in the body.

Advantages of Nanomedicine

  • Targeted drug delivery
  • Reduced side effects
  • Improved drug solubility and stability
  • Controlled and sustained drug release
  • Better bioavailability

Applications of Nanomedicine

  • Cancer therapy
  • Imaging and diagnostics
  • Treatment of infections
  • Gene therapy
  • Vaccines

2. Nanodrug Administration

Nanodrug administration refers to the methods used to introduce nanomedicines into the body.

Common Routes of Administration

  1. Oral – easy but affected by digestion
  2. Intravenous (IV) – direct entry into bloodstream, most common
  3. Intramuscular – slow release
  4. Inhalation – for lung diseases
  5. Transdermal – through skin patches

Benefits of Nanodrug Administration

  • Improved targeting to diseased tissues
  • Reduced dosage frequency
  • Enhanced therapeutic efficiency

3. Drug Delivery Systems and Their Mechanism

A drug delivery system (DDS) is a method or device used to deliver a drug in a controlled manner to the target site.

Mechanism of Drug Delivery

  • Drug is loaded into a nanocarrier
  • Nanocarrier travels in bloodstream
  • Accumulates at target tissue
  • Drug is released by diffusion, degradation, or stimulus (pH, temperature)

4. Polymer Therapeutics

Polymer therapeutics use polymers to improve drug performance.

Types:

  • Polymer–drug conjugates
  • Polymer–protein conjugates

Advantages:

  • Increased circulation time
  • Reduced toxicity
  • Controlled drug release

Examples:

  • PEGylated drugs (polyethylene glycol attached drugs)

5. Polymer–Drug Conjugates

Polymer conjugates are formed by chemically linking a drug to a polymer.

Mechanism:

  • Drug is inactive while attached
  • Released slowly by enzymatic or chemical cleavage

Advantages:

  • Targeted delivery
  • Improved stability
  • Reduced side effects

6. Polymeric Micelles

Micelles are self-assembled structures formed by amphiphilic polymers.

Structure:

  • Hydrophobic core (holds drug)
  • Hydrophilic shell (improves solubility)

Applications:

  • Delivery of poorly soluble drugs
  • Cancer therapy

Advantages:

  • Small size
  • High drug loading
  • Controlled release

7. Liposomes

Liposomes are spherical vesicles made of phospholipid bilayers.

Structure:

  • Aqueous core
  • Lipid bilayer membrane

Mechanism:

  • Encapsulate hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs
  • Fuse with cell membranes to release drug

Advantages:

  • Biocompatible
  • Targeted delivery
  • Reduced toxicity

Example:

  • Liposomal doxorubicin (cancer drug)

8. Mechanical Testing of Nanomaterials

Mechanical testing evaluates the strength and durability of nanomaterials used in medical applications.

Elasticity

  • Ability of a material to return to original shape after deformation
  • Measured by Young’s modulus

Toughness

  • Ability to absorb energy before breaking
  • Important for implants and scaffolds

Effect of Fabrication on Strength

Fabrication methods strongly affect material strength.

Factors:

  • Particle size and shape
  • Crystallinity
  • Porosity
  • Processing temperature

Examples:

  • Electrospinning increases fiber strength
  • Poor fabrication leads to weak materials

9. Dendrimers as Nanoparticulate Drug Carriers

Dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like nanoparticles.

Structure:

  • Central core
  • Repeated branched layers
  • Multiple surface functional groups

Mechanism of Drug Delivery:

  • Drugs are attached or encapsulated
  • Released in a controlled manner

Advantages:

  • High drug loading
  • Precise size and shape
  • Targeted delivery

Applications:

  • Cancer therapy
  • Gene delivery
  • Antimicrobial treatment

10. Summary

  • Nanomedicine improves treatment efficiency and reduces side effects.
  • Nanodrug administration allows targeted and controlled drug delivery.
  • Drug delivery systems include polymer therapeutics, conjugates, micelles, and liposomes.
  • Mechanical properties like elasticity and toughness are vital for biomedical applications.
  • Dendrimers are promising nanocarriers due to their unique branched structure.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kwashiorkor and Marasmus

-
Image
  Kwashiorkor and Marasmus (Protein-Energy Malnutrition Disorders) 1. Kwashiorkor Definition : Kwashiorkor is a severe form of protein deficiency that occurs mainly in children, even when calorie intake is adequate. Causes : Diet lacking in protein Often seen in developing countries during weaning (switching from breast milk to other foods) Infections that increase protein needs Symptoms : Swollen belly (edema) Thin muscles, but fat may be present Hair changes (thin, reddish, easily pulled out) Skin lesions and infections Irritability and apathy Delayed growth Treatment : Gradual reintroduction of protein Nutritional rehabilitation Treating infections Micronutrient supplementation 2. Marasmus Definition : Marasmus is a severe form of calorie (energy) deficiency , leading to extreme wasting of body tissues. Causes : Lack of all nutrients, especially calories and protein Chronic starvation Poverty, famin...
Read more

NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY- Objectives

-
  Objectives ·        To study about the basic knowledge about nanoparticles and its biological applications. Course outcome ·            Understand the fundamental principles of nanotechnology and their application to biomedical engineering. ·            Apply engineering and physics concepts to the nano-scale and to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of state-of-the-art nano-fabrication methods. ·            Evaluate processing conditions to engineer functional nanomaterials. ·            Apply and transfer interdisciplinary systems engineering approaches to the field of bio-and nanotechnology projects. ·            Characterization methods for nan...
Read more

UNIT-II: NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY

-
Image
UNIT-II: Biomaterials- Introduction and Types. Biodegradable polymers. Biocompatibility, mechanical properties and Antibacterial Activity. DNA based nanomechanical devices, Biomaterial Nanocircuitry - DNA nanostructures for mechanics, computing and DNA based computation. 🧬 UNIT-II: Biomaterials and DNA Nanotechnology 1. Biomaterials: Introduction and Types What are Biomaterials? Materials used in medical devices that interact with the body. Must be safe , non-toxic , and biocompatible . Used in implants, prosthetics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, etc. Types of Biomaterials: Type Examples Key Features Metals Titanium, Stainless steel Strong, durable, used in bone plates, dental implants Ceramics Alumina, Zirconia Hard, wear-resistant, used in bone grafts, dental crowns Polymers Polyethylene, Silicone, Chitosan Flexible, biodegradable, used in sutures, drug delivery Composites Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers Combine p...
Read more