Use of nanotechnologies for drug delivery

The emerging field of nanotechnology has an enormous potential contribution to make to the field of pharmaceutical materials science. The advantages of drug nanoparticles can be as simple as dissolution rate enhancement through increased surface area or as complex as targeted delivery through novel pathways. However, the application of many nanoscale technologies has been slow because of difficulties controlling the drug form with decreasing particle size and maintaining chemical and physical stability upon storage. Advancing beyond these limitations requires a unique understanding of both the material properties of the active ingredients as well as the physical chemistry of the nano-sized particle. This article will examine the current challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry in applying nanotechnology, with a focus on the deficiencies in understanding that need to be addressed to move forward.