Abstract
In modern-day medicine, nanoparticles and nanocarriers are rapidly
evolving fields in therapeutics and are the building blocks of nanomedicine, which
emphasize the use of nanoscale particles that have a wide array of functions from
working as a diagnostic tool to the screening, monitoring, and controlling of various
diseases to the delivery of drugs at specific targets in a controlled manner. With the
advancement in technologies, it is proven that nanoparticles have a greater potential in
wide biomedical applications. Due to their ability to bind with both hydrophobic and
lyophilic substances, lower particle size, higher carrier capacity, nanoparticles serve as
a favorable platform for specific and targeted drug delivery in disease treatment.
Nanoformulations can improve the safety, pharmacokinetic characteristics, and
bioavailability of administered drugs, and can improve the therapeutic effect when
compared with conventional therapies. Besides, nanoparticles may also be effective in
delivering nucleotides, vaccines, and recombinant proteins. Several varieties of
nanoparticles are available: different metal and polymeric nanoparticles like gold/silver
nanoparticles and micelles, dendrimers. Carbon-derived nanoparticles like quantum
dots, carbon tubes, and many other nano assemblies. Numerous nanocarriers,
nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and drug targeting systems are either
developed or under development. In this chapter, we will emphasize mainly the
specific and targeted nanoparticles and the use of various nanocarriers for the targeted
delivery of drugs in various diseases. The opportunities and challenges of using
nanoparticles/nanocarriers in targeted delivery along with its clinical applications are
also discussed here.