The Role and Potential of Nanotechnology in Improving Solubility and Enhancing Bioavailability

Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging field in pharmaceutical sciences that has shown significant potential to enhance the bioavailability of drugs, particularly those with poor aqueous solubility. Numerous nanoscale drug delivery systems, including nanocrystals, nanosuspensions, and lipid- and polymer-based nanocarriers, have been developed to overcome pharmacokinetic limitations. Through the optimization of physicochemical properties, significant improvements in drug delivery performance can be achieved. This could potentially enable advancements in the therapeutic use of various active pharmaceutical ingredients while minimizing undesirable and potentially toxic side effects. Despite their novel advantages, the development of nanoscale carriers poses many challenges, including safety concerns, high production costs, a lack of standardization, and scalability issues. Advanced formulation technologies, such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML) approaches, can help to address these challenges as they offer opportunities to achieve uniformity and more efficient production. This review provides an overview of the critical physicochemical properties of nanoparticles and potential nanotechnological approaches to enhance solubility and bioavailability, highlighting both their advantages and limitations, and summarizes prospects for further improvement.