Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery: A Modern Approach in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Drug delivery remains a critical challenge in pharmaceutical sciences due to the inherent limitations of conventional dosage forms. Traditional tablets, capsules, and injectable formulations often suffer from poor solubility, limited bioavailability, rapid metabolism, and lack of site specificity, leading to reduced therapeutic outcomes and increased side effects. Over the past three decades, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising platform to overcome these limitations. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) utilize carriers at the nanoscale (1–100 nm) to enhance solubility, improve pharmacokinetics, achieve targeted delivery, and minimize systemic toxicity. This review article explores the fundamental principles of nanotechnology in drug delivery, classification of nanocarriers, and their mechanisms of action. It highlights liposomes, niosomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), carbon nanotubes, and metallic nanoparticles. The advantages of NDDS—such as improved patient compliance, sustained release, and targeted therapy—are compared with their limitations, including stability issues, high production costs, and regulatory hurdles. Current applications are discussed with case studies in oncology (Doxil®, Abraxane®), neurology (nanoparticles for blood–brain barrier crossing), infectious diseases (Amphotericin B lipid formulations), and vaccine technology (COVID-19 mRNA vaccines using lipid nanoparticles). The review also explores future prospects, including theranostics, personalized nanomedicine, and AIassisted nanocarrier design. Overall, nanotechnology represents a transformative advancement in pharmaceutical sciences, with the potential to revolutionize therapy across multiple disease areas. Continuous research, standardized regulatory guidelines, and careful toxicity assessments will be critical in realizing the full clinical potential of NDDS.