NANOPARTICLES IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: RECENT ADVANCES, TARGETED DELIVERY, THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery has emerged as an important approach for improving the therapeutic performance of pharmaceutical agents and overcoming several limitations associated with conventional dosage forms. Problems such as poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, premature degradation, non-specific distribution, and frequent administration can restrict effective drug therapy. Nanoparticles provide versatile carrier systems that can protect therapeutic molecules, modify their distribution, enhance drug localization, and regulate drug release. Based on their composition, nanoparticles can be broadly classified into organic, inorganic, lipid-based, polymeric, and hybrid systems. Their biological and pharmaceutical performance is strongly influenced by physicochemical properties such as particle size, morphology, surface charge, surface chemistry, crystallinity, porosity, and colloidal stability. Different preparation techniques, including top-down, bottom-up, and combined approaches, are used to obtain nanoparticles with desired characteristics.