Nanotechnology has resulted in materials that have greatly improved the effectiveness of drug delivery because of their ability to control matter on the nanoscale. Advanced forms of nanomedicine have been synthesized for better pharmacokinetics to obtain higher efficacy, less systemic toxicity, and better targeting. These criteria have long been the goal in nanomedicine, in particular, for systemic applications in oncological disorders. Now, the “holy grail” in nanomedicine is to design and synthesize new advanced macromolecular nanocarriers and to translate them from lab to clinic. This review describes the current and future perspectives of nanomedicine with particular emphasis on the clinical targets in cancer and inflammation. The advanced forms of liposomes and polyethylene glycol (PEG) based nanocarriers, as well as dendritic polymer conjugates will be discussed with particular attention paid to designs, synthetic strategies, and chemical pathways. In this critical review, we also report on the current status and perspective of dendritic polymer nanoconjugate platforms (e.g. polyamidoamine dendrimers and dendritic polyglycerols) for cellular localization and targeting of specific tissues (192 references).

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Multifunctional dendritic polymers in nanomedicine: opportunities and challenges

Pharmaceutical solvates, hydrates and amorphous forms: A special emphasis on cocrystals

Recent applications of starch derivatives in nanodrug delivery

Drug targeting to the colon with lectins and neoglycoconjugates.

Colon specific drug delivery has gained increased importance not just for the delivery of drugs for the treatment of local diseases associated with the colon but also as potential site for the systemic delivery of therapeutic peptide and proteins. To achieve successful colon targeted drug delivery, a drug needs to be protected from degradation, release and/or absorption in the upper portion of the GI tract and then ensure abrupt or controlled release in the proximal colon. Drug modifications through covalent linkages with carrier or prodrug approach and formulation based approaches can be used for colonic delivery. Report suggests that drug carrier systems larger than 200 mm possess very low gastric transit time due to physiological condition of the bowel in colitis. And for this reason and considering the selective uptake of micron or sub-micron particles by cancerous and inflamed cells/ tissues a multiparticulate approach based on pellets, granules, microsphere or nanoparticle type formulation is expected to have better pharmacological effect in the colon. The review is aimed at understanding recent advancements made in multiparticulate formulation approach for colon specific delivery of medicaments.

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M.-L Aaltonen

Papers

Citric acid as excipient in multiple-unit enteric-coated tablets for targeting drugs on the colon.