Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery System: Commercial Potential and Regulatory Issues
Maria Rodríguez
University of Wellington, New Zealand
DOI:https://doi.org/10.5912/jcb2509
Abstract:
Nanotechnology is crystallizing into a new pillar of medicine, specifically in drug delivery because of its highly effective, targeting, and less side effect features. Nanocarriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and dendrimers, offer targeted drug delivery to specific cells or tissues increasing the bioavailability and clinical outcomes of the treatment. The market prospects of the technology have increased drastically due to higher investment and demand for personalized medicine along with improved pharmaceutical research. On the other hand, there are insurmountable barriers regarding acceptance. Issues such as the toxicity and stability of the nanoparticle, consistency of manufacturing, and lack of standardized guidelines for evaluation are barriers to clinical application. FDA and EMA are piloting regulations to ensure the safety and efficacy of the nanomedicine products. Active and intensive industry research alongside well-defined regulations will be needed to harness the potential of nanotechnology for drug delivery. With nanotechnology, everything from the creation of medicines to their absorption into the human body is possible and possesses great commercial potential. The incorporation of nanotechnology in medicine is however plagued by regulatory challenges which affect its overall adoption. Increased investment in research as well as collaboration between companies and authorities regarding rules and regulations will be required to maximize the ease of use of nanotechnology in medicine.