NANOPARTICLES IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Nanoparticles have emerged as a revolutionary approach in modern drug delivery systems, transforming the way therapeutic agents are administered, distributed, and released in the body. Traditional drug delivery methods, such as oral and intravenous routes, often face multiple limitations including poor solubility of drugs, rapid degradation, systemic toxicity, and lack of site-specific targeting. These drawbacks lead to reduced therapeutic efficiency and increased side effects, making the search for novel delivery systems essential. Nanotechnology provides a powerful solution to these challenges, and nanoparticles, due to their nanoscale size (1–100 nm) and tunable physicochemical properties, have become one of the most widely studied platforms. Their high surface-area-to-volume ratio allows for enhanced drug loading, while their surface can be engineered with polymers, ligands, and antibodies to achieve targeted delivery. Furthermore, nanoparticles are capable of controlled and sustained release, ensuring that the drug remains within the therapeutic window for an extended duration, thereby improving patient compliance. Different classes of nanoparticles, such as polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based carriers, metallic nanoparticles, dendrimers, and carbon-based nanostructures, have shown significant promise in various therapeutic areas. For example, liposomes and lipid nanoparticles have been used in mRNA vaccines and antifungal therapy, polymeric nanoparticles in cancer treatment, and metallic nanoparticles in imaging and photothermal therapy. The ability of nanoparticles to cross biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier has also opened new frontiers for treating neurological diseases that were previously considered difficult to manage. However, despite their advantages, several challenges remain, including issues related to toxicity, large- scale production, regulatory approval, and long-term stability. Ongoing research is focusing on developing smart, stimuli-responsive, and hybrid nanoparticles to overcome these barriers. Overall, nanoparticles represent one of the most promising tools in pharmaceutical research and development, holding the potential to redefine the future of medicine by offering personalized, efficient, and safer drug delivery strategies.