Site specific and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to specific body parts for the treatment of diseases is essential to increase drug efficacy and reduce the toxic side effects. Employing specially designed nanoparticles as carriers of these therapeutic agents has proven to be effective for transporting drugs to the target and releasing when needed. Spherical nanoparticles are the most widely used nanostructures due to their relatively simple synthesis. However, spherical nanoparticles suffer from low drug loading capacities. Compared to zero dimensional nanoparticles (i.e. spherical nanoparticles), one dimensional nanostructures (i.e. nanorods, nanofibers or nanotubes) have the advantages of high loading capacities and enhanced targeting due to their high surface to volume ratios.
Recently, local drug delivery platforms as opposed to drug carriers have attracted attention due to challenges of the nanoparticle transport in the body. Drug loaded patches that are implanted on the tumor site, for example, eliminate the need for transporting the drugs via nanoparticles. Two-dimensional nanostructures, therefore, offer significant advantages for local drug delivery applications.
Compared to spherical nanoparticles, one dimensional nanostructures have been explored less as drug carriers, which can be attributed to their relatively challenging fabrication methods. Longer circulation times, in addition to the alignment or tumbling of one dimensional nanostructures during transport in the body, strongly impact the performance of these nanostructures as drug carriers. Although there are studies modeling the diffusion of these nanostructures in blood vessels, investigations addressing the effect of their shape on the migration and transport mechanisms are limited. Furthermore, the effect of their shape on the uptake efficiency by the cells needs to be further explored. Similarly, two dimensional nanostructures have gained less attention compared to zero dimensional nanoparticles due to challenges in fabrication and severe immune response. However, recent studies have shown their significant benefits for particular treatments, such as multi-responsive control mechanisms and higher drug loading capacities. Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to cover recent advances in the development of one and two dimensional nanostructures as drug delivery platforms.
The scope of the Research Topic is one and two dimensional nanostructures for drug delivery applications. The areas covered within this scope may include:
• Design and synthesis of one dimensional nanostructures and two dimensional thin films
• Drug loading and release kinetics studies
• Targeting and cellular uptake of nanostructures
• Transport of nanostructures in the body
• Advanced characterization and in vivo imaging techniques
Submissions of Original Research papers, Short Communications and Reviews will be possible.
Drs. Ince, Stella and Colcite hold patents related to nanostructures/ nanomaterials.
Site specific and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to specific body parts for the treatment of diseases is essential to increase drug efficacy and reduce the toxic side effects. Employing specially designed nanoparticles as carriers of these therapeutic agents has proven to be effective for transporting drugs to the target and releasing when needed. Spherical nanoparticles are the most widely used nanostructures due to their relatively simple synthesis. However, spherical nanoparticles suffer from low drug loading capacities. Compared to zero dimensional nanoparticles (i.e. spherical nanoparticles), one dimensional nanostructures (i.e. nanorods, nanofibers or nanotubes) have the advantages of high loading capacities and enhanced targeting due to their high surface to volume ratios.
Recently, local drug delivery platforms as opposed to drug carriers have attracted attention due to challenges of the nanoparticle transport in the body. Drug loaded patches that are implanted on the tumor site, for example, eliminate the need for transporting the drugs via nanoparticles. Two-dimensional nanostructures, therefore, offer significant advantages for local drug delivery applications.
Compared to spherical nanoparticles, one dimensional nanostructures have been explored less as drug carriers, which can be attributed to their relatively challenging fabrication methods. Longer circulation times, in addition to the alignment or tumbling of one dimensional nanostructures during transport in the body, strongly impact the performance of these nanostructures as drug carriers. Although there are studies modeling the diffusion of these nanostructures in blood vessels, investigations addressing the effect of their shape on the migration and transport mechanisms are limited. Furthermore, the effect of their shape on the uptake efficiency by the cells needs to be further explored. Similarly, two dimensional nanostructures have gained less attention compared to zero dimensional nanoparticles due to challenges in fabrication and severe immune response. However, recent studies have shown their significant benefits for particular treatments, such as multi-responsive control mechanisms and higher drug loading capacities. Therefore, the goal of this Research Topic is to cover recent advances in the development of one and two dimensional nanostructures as drug delivery platforms.
The scope of the Research Topic is one and two dimensional nanostructures for drug delivery applications. The areas covered within this scope may include:
• Design and synthesis of one dimensional nanostructures and two dimensional thin films
• Drug loading and release kinetics studies
• Targeting and cellular uptake of nanostructures
• Transport of nanostructures in the body
• Advanced characterization and in vivo imaging techniques
Submissions of Original Research papers, Short Communications and Reviews will be possible.
Drs. Ince, Stella and Colcite hold patents related to nanostructures/ nanomaterials.
