Nano-engineered drug delivery systems; from oral administration to compartmentalised particles

Drug delivery requires increasingly sophisticated approaches to engineer systems with release and distribution properties appropriate to the disease state in question, often at medium to large scale in order to be... [ view full abstract ]

Drug delivery requires increasingly sophisticated approaches to engineer systems with release and distribution properties appropriate to the disease state in question, often at medium to large scale in order to be commercially feasible.  Nano-engineered systems, including fibres and particles, offer both opportunities and challenges and this presentation will address some of these with particular emphasis on developing systems with potential for specific patient benefit.  The use of nanofibres for oral delivery will be outlined, including consideration of large scale production, development of supersaturated systems on release in the gastrointestinal tract and stability characterisation.  Similarly, fibres for vaginal delivery and application to wounds will be outlined.  Nanoparticles produced via electrohydrodynamic approaches will be described including the development of compartmentalised systems which may incorporate both low molecular weight and biological therapeutic agents at a nanoscale.   The images associated with the abstract outline three approaches to medium to large scale drug-loaded nanosystem production, namely pressurized gyration, centrifugal spinning and electrohydrodynamic spraying.