Harnessing ultrasonication for advanced nanocarrier synthesis: a pathway to enhanced biomedical applications

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology presents challenges in developing safe and efficient methods for synthesizing nanostructures suitable for drug delivery systems. High-intensity ultrasound has emerged as a powerful sustainable tool for producing various biomedical platforms at the nanoscale. This method stands out among different nano-synthetic routes due to its intrinsic benefits, including safety, energy efficiency, scalability, and straightforward operation, as well as the ability to control size and morphology. The energy produced by ultrasonic cavitation is mainly conveyed to particles and droplets during their creation, development, and the explosive collapse of bubbles within the solvent. This review offers a comprehensive examination of the principles of ultrasonic sonochemistry and the various setups suitable for the synthesis of nanoscale drug delivery systems. It assesses a variety of drug nanocarriers synthesized through ultrasound-assisted methods, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages concerning particle size, stability, and efficiency. Recent advancements demonstrate that ultrasonically fabricated nano-sized systems significantly enhance the techno-functional activities of loaded drugs, including solubility, controlled release profiles, bioavailability, stability, and dissolution rates in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this review discusses safety considerations associated with ultrasonically prepared nanostructures and emphasizes the potential of these systems in fortifying biomedical applications.