A Review article on Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery Systems: Current Advances, Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Nanotechnology has emerged as an important area of pharmaceutical research, offering innovative approaches to drug delivery and therapeutic development. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems use nanoscale materials to improve the solubility, stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic effectiveness of drugs. These systems include liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, and lipid nanoparticles. Conventional drug delivery systems may face challenges such as poor drug solubility, rapid elimination from the body, limited absorption, and unwanted side effects. Nanotechnology can help address some of these limitations by protecting drugs from degradation, modifying drug-release profiles, and improving drug distribution to particular tissues. These approaches have applications in cancer treatment, infectious diseases, neurological disorders, gene therapy, and vaccine delivery. Despite their advantages, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems face challenges related to toxicity, manufacturing costs, formulation stability, large-scale production, and regulatory approval. Further research is required to establish their long-term safety and improve their clinical translation. This review discusses the principles, types, preparation methods, mechanisms, applications, advantages, limitations, and future prospects of nanotechnology in drug delivery systems.