Journal of Nanomedicine & Biotherapeutic Discovery
Open Access

Exploring the Role of Nanocarriers in Enhancing Drug Bioavailability at the Nanoscale

Akshay Ponnuswami^{* *}Correspondence: Akshay Ponnuswami, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India, Email:

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The advent of nanotechnology has revolutionized drug delivery systems, offering novel approaches to enhance drug bioavailability. Nanocarriers, including liposomes, nanoparticles, and dendrimers, have emerged as pivotal tools in overcoming the limitations of conventional drug delivery methods. This article explores the role of nanocarriers in enhancing drug bioavailability at the nanoscale, focusing on their design, mechanisms of action, and applications in various therapeutic areas. We discuss the challenges and future perspectives of nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems, highlighting their capacity to revolutionize the field of customized medicine. Drug bioavailability, defined as the proportion of a drug that enters the systemic circulation and reaches the site of action, is a critical factor in the efficacy of therapeutic agents. Conventional drug delivery systems often face challenges such as poor solubility, rapid metabolism, and non-specific distribution, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes. Nanocarriers, engineered at the nanoscale, offers a favorable solution by improving the solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of drugs, thereby enhancing their bioavailability. Nanocarriers encompass a diverse range of materials, each with unique properties that make them suitable for specific drug delivery applications.

The most common types of nanocarriers liposomes, which are spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers, capable of encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Their biocompatibility and ability to fuse with cell membranes make them effective in delivering drugs to target cells. Polymeric nanoparticles, made from biodegradable polymers like PLGA (Poly (Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid)), offer controlled release of drugs. Their surface can be modified for targeted delivery, enhancing the drug's accumulation at the desired site. Whereas, dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like structures with a central core. Their unique architecture allows for precise control over drug release, and their surface can be functionalized to improve targeting and reduce toxicity. They combine the advantages of liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles, providing controlled release and protection of sensitive drugs. Poor water solubility is a common issue with many drugs, leading to low bioavailability. Nanocarriers can improve solubility by encapsulating the drug in a hydrophobic core or modifying the drug's surface properties. Drugs are often susceptible to degradation by enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract or by the liver during first-pass metabolism. Nanocarriers protect drugs from these processes, allowing more of the drug to reach the systemic circulation. Nanocarriers can be engineered to target specific cells or tissues, reducing offtarget effects and increasing the concentration of the drug at the site of action. This targeting can be achieved through ligandreceptor interactions, pH-sensitive release, or other stimuliresponsive mechanisms. Nanocarriers allow for the controlled release of drugs over time, maintaining therapeutic levels in the bloodstream and reducing the frequency of dosing. This controlled release can be achieved through diffusion, degradation of the carrier, or external triggers like temperature or light.

Nanocarriers have been applied across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Cancer therapy has benefited significantly from nanocarrier-based drug delivery. Nanoparticles can preferentially accumulate in tumor tissues through the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect, allowing for higher drug concentrations at the tumor site while minimizing systemic toxicity. Nanocarriers can enhance the delivery of antimicrobial agents, particularly in targeting intracellular pathogens. Liposomal formulations of antibiotics, for example, have shown improved efficacy against resistant bacterial strains.

The Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge in treating neurological diseases. Nanocarriers can cross the BBB, delivering therapeutic agents directly to the brain, offering new possibilities for treating conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite the promising potential of nanocarriers, several challenges remain. The complexity of nanocarrier design, potential toxicity, and regulatory steeplechases are significant barriers to clinical translation. Additionally, the scalability of production and cost-effectiveness of nanocarrier-based therapies must be addressed. Future research should focus on optimizing the safety profile of nanocarriers, developing multifunctional carriers that can simultaneously deliver multiple drugs or combine therapy and diagnostics (theranostics), and advancing personalized medicine through patient-specific nanocarrier formulations. Nanocarriers represent a transformative approach to enhancing drug bioavailability at the nanoscale. By improving solubility, protecting drugs from degradation, enabling targeted delivery, and providing controlled release, nanocarriers offer significant advantages over traditional drug delivery systems. The present obstacles related to nanocarriers might be solved and the full potential of nano-carrier based therapeutics in precision medicine could be unlocked with further research and innovation.