Current challenges and future directions in nanomedicine

Abstract

Nanomedicine research describes the medical application of nanotechnology and nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancer over the past two decades. Nanomedicine is basically a product of a newer scientific technology known as nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is a multi-disciplinary scientific field that transforms the pattern of detecting diseases in the human body and also treating the damage. Nanomedicine applies to highly specific medical involvements for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. This developing discipline of nanomedicine brings active pharmaceutical agent and nanotechnology together in order to alter the therapies as well as improve the existing treatment procedures. These nanomedicines are capable of overcoming the biological barriers in the human body to improve the way to deliver the incorporated drug compounds to specific tissues and organs at a predetermined rate. More precisely, nanomedicines have been observed to modify the cellular and tissue uptake of therapeutic compounds and hence improve the biodistribution of compounds to target sites in vivo. In nanomedicine, the active biomolecules and their formulations are manipulated to produce nanostructures of pharmaceuticals of the same size so as to produce predetermined beneficial effect in human beings. These nanomedicines produce an excellent solution for early non-faulty diagnosis of diseases and hence will enhance the treatment of cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cardiovascular diseases. Nanomedicines have demonstrated several significant therapeutic advantages of biomolecules, however the beneficial clinical translation of these nanotechnology-based biomolecules have not progressed as expected. Hence, in this chapter, current understanding of nanoformulations of bioactives has been exemplified and the challenges are being addressed.