Applications of nanocarriers in pharmacy with drug examples.


Nanocarriers are submicron-sized particles that can be used to encapsulate drugs, improve their bioavailability, and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Nanocarriers can improve the solubility, stability, and circulation time of drugs, allowing for targeted delivery to specific tissues or cells. In this scientific assay, we will describe the applications of nanocarriers in pharmacy with examples of drugs.

Applications of Nanocarriers:

  1. Drug delivery: Nanocarriers can be used to improve the delivery of drugs to specific tissues or cells. For example, liposomes are nanocarriers that can encapsulate hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs, improving their solubility and targeting specific tissues. Doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer, is commonly delivered using liposomes.

  2. Controlled release: Nanocarriers can be designed to release drugs in a controlled manner, improving their therapeutic efficacy and reducing their toxicity. Polymeric nanoparticles can be used to encapsulate drugs and release them in a controlled manner. Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug used to treat ovarian and breast cancer, is commonly delivered using polymeric nanoparticles.

  3. Imaging: Nanocarriers can be used as imaging agents to detect diseases and monitor their progression. Iron oxide nanoparticles can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect tumors and monitor their response to therapy.

  4. Gene delivery: Nanocarriers can be used to deliver genetic material, such as DNA or RNA, to target cells. Cationic liposomes can be used to encapsulate and deliver genetic material to target cells, allowing for the treatment of genetic disorders or cancer. The first FDA-approved gene therapy drug, Luxturna, uses a viral vector as a nanocarrier to deliver a functional copy of a gene to treat a rare genetic disorder.

Drug Examples:

  1. Liposomal doxorubicin: Liposomal doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast cancer. Liposomes are used as nanocarriers to encapsulate doxorubicin and improve its solubility and targeting to cancer cells. Liposomal doxorubicin has been shown to improve the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the toxicity of doxorubicin.

  2. Abraxane: Abraxane is a chemotherapy drug used to treat breast, pancreatic, and non-small cell lung cancer. Abraxane consists of albumin-bound paclitaxel nanoparticles, which allow for the controlled release of paclitaxel and improved targeting to cancer cells. Abraxane has been shown to improve the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the toxicity of paclitaxel.

  3. Ferumoxytol: Ferumoxytol is an iron oxide nanoparticle used as a contrast agent in MRI to detect tumors and monitor their response to therapy. Ferumoxytol can also be used to target cancer cells and deliver drugs to them, allowing for improved therapeutic efficacy.

  4. Onpattro: Onpattro is a RNA interference (RNAi) drug used to treat a rare genetic disorder called hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR). Onpattro uses lipid nanoparticles as nanocarriers to deliver small interfering RNA (siRNA) to liver cells, reducing the production of abnormal transthyretin protein and improving symptoms.

Conclusion:

Nanocarriers are an emerging field in pharmacy that has the potential to revolutionize drug delivery and improve therapeutic efficacy. Nanocarriers can be used to encapsulate drugs, control their release, target specific tissues or cells, and improve imaging and gene delivery. Liposomal doxorubicin, Abraxane, ferumoxytol, and Onpattro are examples of drugs that use nanoc

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PLANT LAYOUT FOR CAPSULE MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT & MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Image
PLANT LAYOUT  FOR CAPSULE MANUFACTURING DEPARTMENT: ENVIRONMENT CONDITION FOR CAPSULE FILLING AREA Humidity:          Not more than 35% RH Temperature:    Not more than 25% Area of each room, position of equipments, washing, drying, and sanitary facilities must be in accordance with GMP. MANUFACTURING PROCESS: CHEMCAPS Limited is an India based young and dynamic organization engaged in the manufacture and export of 'empty hard gelatin capsules' under the brand name of 'Chemlock' for discerning customers around the globe. COMPOSITION                                     Gelatin                                     Water                       ...
Keep reading

2. Extensive literature survey:

Image
Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written down. It is compulsory for a research worker writing a thesis for a Ph.D. degree to write a synopsis of the topic and submit it to the necessary Committee or the Research Board for approval.   At this juncture the researcher should undertake extensive literature survey connected with the problem. For this purpose, the abstracting and indexing journals and published or unpublished bibliographies are the first place to go to. Academic journals, conference proceedings, government reports, books etc., must be tapped depending on the nature of the problem. In this process, it should be remembered that one source will lead to another. The earlier studies, if any, which are similar to the study in hand, should be carefully studied. A good library will be a great help to the researcher at this stage.
Keep reading

PREPARATION OF HOSPITAL FORMULARY

Image
PREPARATION OF FORMULARY ·          Formulation is an essential part of hospital pharmacy. ·          It has been a focal point for improving drug therapy in hospitals. ·          Effectiveness of formulary system depends on the abilities of the pharmacist involved with it. ·          Although the majority of formulary decisions are made by Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee but well planned system provides both structure and flexibility and encompasses both selection of drugs and criteria for drug use. ·          These special features allow for standardization to reduce errors, wastage and required personnel time. Advantage: ·          To discourage the use of “less than optimal drug therapy”, and ·     ...
Keep reading

Facebook Page

Knowledge of Pharma