NANOPARTICLES IN DRUG DELIVERY: HISTORY, PROPERTIES, PREPARATION, AND APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Nanoparticles have emerged as versatile platforms in modern drug delivery, offering unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, tunable size, and controlled release capabilities. Early research emphasized their potential in enhancing the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of therapeutic agents, while recent advances have expanded their applications to targeted therapy, diagnostics, and vaccine delivery. Various classes of nanoparticles—including polymeric, lipid-based, and inorganic systems—have been developed with distinct advantages and limitations. Methods of preparation, such as ionotropic gelation and solid lipid carrier technologies, allow for tailoring particle size, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency to meet therapeutic requirements. Applications extend across oncology, infectious diseases, and regenerative medicine, where nanoparticles improve site-specific drug delivery, reduce systemic toxicity, and enable innovative therapies such as mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Despite these advantages, challenges remain regarding large-scale production, reproducibility, regulatory approval, and long-term safety, including potential toxicity. Continuous research aims to address these issues while advancing next-generation systems such as nanostructured lipid carriers and functionalized nanoparticles for personalized medicine. Collectively, the literature underscores nanoparticles as a transformative tool in pharmaceutical sciences, bridging fundamental research with clinical applications and paving the way for more precise, effective, and safer therapeutic strategies.