Nanotechnology in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Role of Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery

Abstract

Nanoparticles are nanoscale materials whose physicochemical properties can be tailored for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Their high surface-area-to-volume ratio and modifiable surfaces make them promising carriers for protecting active ingredients, modifying drug release, and supporting delivery to selected tissues or cells. This narrative review summarizes commonly used nanoparticle synthesis methods, including chemical reduction, co-precipitation, sol–gel processing, hydrothermal synthesis, microemulsion, and green or biological synthesis. It also discusses interactions with extracellular environments and mechanisms of intracellular uptake, followed by an overview of polymeric nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), gold nanoparticles, and magnetic nanoparticles. Purification, pharmaceutical applications, potential benefits, and safety limitations are considered. Nanoparticle systems may support drug delivery, imaging, antimicrobial research, and other biomedical applications; however, their performance depends on composition, size, surface properties, formulation, and route of administration. Toxicity, environmental fate, manufacturing cost, scale-up, and incomplete knowledge of long-term effects remain important challenges. Further progress requires reproducible synthesis, rigorous characterization, appropriate safety assessment, and evidence that a formulation offers a meaningful advantage over conventional approaches. [4,14]