Carrier-Free Nanodrugs: From Bench to Bedside

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Theranostics
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• Carrier-free nanodrugs show promise due to high active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) loading, minimal carrier toxicity, and simple synthesis.
• Commercial success of carrier-free nanocrystals highlights clinical potential.
• Practical translation faces hurdles: unpredictable assembly, low delivery efficiency, and unclear in vivo behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review contemporary and emerging carrier-free nanodrugs.
• To highlight opportunities and challenges for clinical translation of these nanomedicines.

Main Methods:

• Perspective-based review of existing literature and emerging trends.
• Analysis of diverse APIs and their formulation into carrier-free nanodrugs.
• Discussion of clinical translation barriers and future directions.

Main Results:

• Carrier-free nanodrugs enable exceptional API loading (up to 100%) and avoid carrier-induced toxicity.
• Despite potential, challenges in predictable assembly, efficient delivery, and understanding in vivo fate persist.
• Diverse APIs are being explored for carrier-free nanomedicine development.

Conclusions:

• Carrier-free nanomedicines present significant opportunities for disease theranostics.
• Improvements in design, preparation, delivery, efficacy, and safety are essential for successful clinical translation.
• Further research is needed to bridge the gap from bench to bedside for these advanced therapeutics.