Asian Journal of Research in Medicine and Medical Science

Nanoparticle (NP)-based drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy. NP-based drug delivery systems also improve the pharmacokinetics of chemotherapeutics by prolonging circulation and enhancing tumour accumulation. The aim of this review is to systematically cover the progress, limitations, as well as future perspectives of nano drug-delivery systems with a view to alter drug efficacy and toxicity. The main focus of the review has been on evolution over time, formulation methods and biomedical applications of various types of nanoparticle systems to protect against drug degradation and to improve solubility/ bioavailability for safe targeted delivery in vivo. This review utilises a comprehensive analysis through the literature in the primary and secondary sources are integrated. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the published literature was done to identify developments in nanoparticle formulation design, mechanisms of action and technological improvements associated with drug carriers. Nanoparticle-based formulations, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles and dendrimers, are reported to enhance controlled drug release, bioavailability and target therapy for cancer, infectious diseases and chronic conditions. Nevertheless, they face multiple challenges, such as formulation toxicity and commercial scale-up constraints as well as strict regulatory barriers, which compromise their clinical translation. Nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery technology has brought about a concept in precision medicine and clinical practice, with groundbreaking approaches to circumvent the problems of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of chemical drugs. The next generation of smart and metabolizable nanocarriers should drive the therapeutic performance and advance development in both drug delivery systems and healthcare approaches.