NANOPARTICLE: AN OVERVIEW OF PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND APPLICATION

Abstract

In the last 30 years, particle size reduction technologies turned from an exploratory approach into a mature commercial drug delivery platform. Nanonization technologies have gained a special importance due to a steadily increasing number of development compounds showing poor aqueous solubility. Many drug delivery companies and academic research groups have contributed to the currently existing large variety of different technologies to produce drug nanoparticles. These particles consist of pure active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and are often stabilized with surfactants and/or polymeric stabilizers adsorbed onto their surface. The mean particle size ranges normally from 1 nm up to 1000 nm.

Here we review formulation aspects, characteristics and application of nanoparticle as drug delivery system.