Applications of Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery Systems:A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Nanotechnology has fundamentally transformed the landscape of pharmaceutical sciences by enabling the design and development of advanced drug delivery systems with unprecedented precision, efficiency, and therapeutic specificity. This comprehensive review critically examines the multifaceted applications of nanotechnology in modern drug delivery, systematically analyzing the physicochemical properties, mechanistic underpinnings, and clinical significance of major nanocarrier platforms including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), metallic nanoparticles, and carbon nanotubes. The review traces the historical evolution of nanomedicine from its conceptual foundations in the 1950s to the emergence of clinically approved formulations and investigational next-generation systems. Central to the discussion is a comparative analysis of conventional drug delivery systems versus nanoformulations, highlighting improvements in bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, tissue targeting, and patient compliance. Key mechanisms—including passive targeting via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, receptor-mediated active targeting, stimuli-responsive release, and theranostic integration—are elaborated with reference to recent experimental and clinical evidence. Specific attention is devoted to the expanding role of nanotechnology in oncology, antimicrobial therapy, central nervous system disorders, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Controlled and sustained drug release strategies are examined in the context of reducing dosing frequency and systemic toxicity. The review further addresses critical challenges related to nanoparticle toxicity, immunogenicity, regulatory frameworks, and large-scale manufacturing. Research gaps are systematically identified, and a forward-looking discussion of emerging trends—including stimuli-responsive nanosystems, artificial intelligence-aided nanomedicine design, and mRNA nanoformulations—is provided. The paper aims to serve as a scholarly reference for researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical scientists working at the intersection of nanotechnology and biomedicine.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, drug delivery systems, nanoparticles, targeted therapy, nanomedicine, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, cancer therapy, controlled release, theranostics