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Overcoming Physiological Barriers to Nanoparticle Delivery-Are We There Yet?
Oliver S Thomas1,2,3, Wilfried Weber1,2,3
1Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|January 11, 2020
Summary
Nanoparticle drug delivery systems face biological barriers, but engineering strategies can improve therapeutic efficacy for diseases like cancer. Overcoming these challenges maximizes nanomedicine
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nanosized materials are clinically used for therapeutic agent delivery, with significant potential for treating various diseases.
- Nanomedicine, particularly in cancer treatment, requires overcoming physiological barriers for effective drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physiological barriers encountered by nanocarriers during therapeutic delivery.
- To discuss strategies for engineering nanoparticles to enhance drug delivery efficiency, focusing on cancer nanomedicine.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on nanoparticle delivery systems and physiological barriers.
- Analysis of nanoparticle behavior in the bloodstream, tumor microenvironment, and cellular uptake.
- Discussion of nanoparticle engineering strategies, including surface modification and targeting.
Main Results:
- Key delivery stages include bloodstream circulation, enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect-based accumulation, intratumoral diffusion, cellular uptake, and target site arrival.
- Strategies like PEGylation increase circulation half-life, but limitations and alternatives are being explored.
- Targeting and controlled activation approaches are crucial for efficient nanomedicine.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming physiological barriers is critical for realizing the full potential of nanomedicine.
- Continued advancements in nanoparticle engineering are essential for improving therapeutic outcomes in diseases like cancer.
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