The demand for lipid and polymer nanoparticles research and development grew in response to advancements of nucleic acid therapeutic capabilities. These therapeutics include specialized medicine, cancer and disease treatment, gene therapy, and vaccination development. For instance, following the COVID-19 pandemic, many pharmaceutical companies directed their attention to mRNA vaccine manufacturing. Due to the nucleic acid’s instability alone, vaccination manufacturers demanded lipid and polymer system formulation to encapsulate these therapeutics. This motivated companies to focus on lipid and polymer nanoparticle carrier research and development.
After Pfizer-BioNTech released the first FDA approved COVID-19 vaccination at the end of 2020, the Global Lipid Nanoparticles Market skyrocketed. The acceleration of current market growth glamorized the potential of nanoparticle carrier’s role in oncology and neurological medications. The next generation of LNP and PNPs include solid lipid nanoparticles, cationic lipids, chitosan coated polymers, and many others. Lipid and polymer nanoparticles have the capacity to protect drugs from harsh bodily environments, improve medication storage, and are biocompatible and biodegradable. For these reasons, and numerous others, the market focus has now been oriented towards developing nanoparticles as carriers for innovative medications.
These are the latest lipid and polymer nanoparticle formulation focuses in 2023:
Nanoparticles in Oncology
The largest application of nanoparticle carriers is cancer treatment. Current nanoparticle formulations have proved to be more bioavailable antitumor selective compared to conventional free drugs. This allows for a decrease in targeting non-cancerous cells, an increase in drug residence time and solubility of hydrophobic medications, and controls drug release. Cancer medications, such as Doxil, Myocet, and Crodamol, have been cancer medications of interest in regard to nanoparticle formulation. Solid lipid nanoparticles and ionizable nanoparticles have been the main carriers with their ability to target tumorous brain, lung, and various epithelial tissues.
Nanoparticles in Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acid carrying nanoparticles are newly emerging drugs which are capable of transporting hydrophilic and polyvalent anionic medications through cellular membranes. Nucleic acid medications were previously inhibited from cell crossing biological membranes. This issue has been resolved by encapsulating medications within nanoparticles able to pass through the blood brain barrier. These carriers also protect from nuclease degradation and improve longevity of medication within the body. Some nucleic acid carriers include the COVID mRNA vaccine, Flu A and B treatment, and new CRISPR technology. These carriers are generally composed of PEGylated lipids, solid lipid nanoparticles or lipidoid-substituted lipids.
Nanoparticles in Neurology
Crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB) has always been a challenge for medications that repair neurons and synapses while also providing neurogenesis within the central and peripheral nervous system. Nanoparticles which target inflammatory molecules, catalyze reduction-oxidative reactions, move across the BBB, and control drug release have become the center of attention for neurological medications. Diseases such as Alzheimers, dementia, and neuroinfections, have been the main target of these nanoparticles. Treatments include nanoparticles filled with Memantine Hydrochloride (MeHCl) and Tramiprosate (TMPS), LipofectinTM, and Onpattro® are some examples. Nanoparticle formulations include solid lipid nanoparticles, DOPE modified nanoparticles, and bioactive omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Nanoparticles in Infectious Disease
Nanoparticles are more recently being used to fight infectious diseases. The main focus includes preventing, disrupting, and inhibiting or dispersing bacterial biofilms present in many infections. Using nanoparticles to fight these infections can aid in the antibiotic resistance crisis currently unfolding. Gold nanoparticles have been shown to disrupt the bacterial diffusion barrier and increase bacterial susceptibility to the antibiotic tobramycin. Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, rabies, and sepsis, are the main focus of nanoparticle therapeutics. Some infectious disease nanoparticle formulations include enzyme-responsive biomimetic solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, and solid lipid nanoparticles.
We have been busy compiling a comprehensive list of as many publications related to non-viral Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) as we could. At the bottom of this page you will find an Excel file that you can download. It will provide you with a comprehensive list of many of the publications made in this field from 2020 - 2023. The list is broken up into two types of nanoparticles, Lipid and Polymer.
The Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs) and the Polymer Nanoparticles (PNPs) are presented in the following categories:
Article Title
Published Date
Lipids/Formulation
Target (General)
Target Cell
Structural Chemistry
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