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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
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Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
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Advances in carrier-free nanodrug delivery systems
Jin-Ye Liu1, Yan-Yan Zheng1, Shu-Yu Wang1
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Institute of Materia Medica, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, 250117, China.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Carrier-free nanodrug delivery systems (CFNDDS) offer superior drug loading and reduced toxicity compared to traditional methods. This review explores CFNDDS self-assembly, strategies, and applications in treating diseases like cancer and infections.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery
- Biomaterials Science
- Therapeutic Innovation
Background:
- Conventional nanodrug delivery systems (NDDS) face limitations in drug loading and biocompatibility due to exogenous carriers.
- Carrier-free nanodrug delivery systems (CFNDDS) leverage intrinsic self-assembly of therapeutic molecules, overcoming these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the driving forces behind CFNDDS self-assembly.
- To summarize innovative CFNDDS strategies, including single, dual, multi-drug, and prodrug modalities.
- To survey recent advancements in CFNDDS applications for various diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of fundamental principles governing CFNDDS self-assembly.
- Analysis of diverse CFNDDS construction strategies.
- Comprehensive survey of CFNDDS applications across multiple disease areas.
Main Results:
- CFNDDS achieve near-theoretical drug loading efficiency.
- CFNDDS effectively mitigate carrier-associated toxicity, enhancing drug efficacy.
- Significant progress has been made in applying CFNDDS to treat cancer, fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis, atherosclerosis, fibrosis, and bacterial infections.
Conclusions:
- CFNDDS represent a promising advancement in drug delivery, offering improved efficacy and safety.
- Understanding CFNDDS self-assembly mechanisms is crucial for their clinical translation.
- This review provides a theoretical foundation for future CFNDDS development and research.
Keywords:
Biomedical applicationsCarrier-free nanodrug delivery systemsDriving forceNanotechnologySelf-assemblyMore Related Videos
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