Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems

Nanomedicine and drug delivery systems focus on the development and application of nanoscale technologies to improve the delivery, targeting, and efficacy of therapeutic agents. Nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, micelles, and inorganic nanoparticles, are designed to enhance drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability while minimizing systemic toxicity. These systems enable controlled and sustained release, targeted delivery to specific tissues or cells, and protection of labile drugs from degradation. Functionalization of nanoparticles with ligands, antibodies, or peptides allows receptor-mediated targeting, improving accumulation in diseased tissues such as tumors or inflamed areas while sparing healthy cells. Nanotechnology also facilitates the delivery of complex molecules, including nucleic acids, proteins, and small molecules, that would otherwise have limited bioavailability. Applications include cancer therapy, cardiovascular diseases, neuropharmacology, and regenerative medicine. Advanced techniques allow crossing of biological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier, to deliver therapeutics to previously inaccessible sites. Safety and biocompatibility assessments, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution studies are critical in evaluating the efficacy and potential side effects of nanomedicine formulations. Ongoing research explores multifunctional nanoparticles capable of simultaneous imaging, diagnosis, and therapy, known as theranostics. Overall, nanomedicine integrates materials science, pharmacology, and molecular biology to optimize drug delivery, enhance therapeutic outcomes, and enable personalized interventions, representing a significant advancement in contemporary pharmacotherapy and biomedical innovation.