![Figure 1. Image of a metastatic lung cancer originating from 26 colon tumors implanted in the dorsal skin of a mouse. The mouse was sacrificed 3 months after implantation and 10 hours before sacrificing, a solution of Evans blue (5%) was injected intravenously to allow the EPR effect to become visible. Albumin-Evans blue complex (70 kDa) preferentially accumulated in metastatic tumor nodules, as in primary tumors. Arrows point to metastatic tumor nodules. From reference [60] with permission of Elsevier.](/figures/figure-1-image-of-a-metastatic-lung-cancer-originating-from-2yjn5hww.webp)
![Table 1. FDA-approved nanomedicines for drug delivery. Adapted from reference [16] with permission of Springer Nature.](/figures/table-1-fda-approved-nanomedicines-for-drug-delivery-adapted-2kaeeq14.webp)
![Figure 4. Flow diagram for removal of nanoparticles in vivo. Reprinted with permission from reference [125]. Copyright 2019 American Chemical Society.](/figures/figure-4-flow-diagram-for-removal-of-nanoparticles-in-vivo-3qxq3ve7.webp)
Q2. What have the authors contributed in "Nanoparticles as drug delivery systems" ?
This chapter presents a review on the design of nanoparticles which have been proposed as drug delivery systems in biomedicine. It will begin with a brief historical review of nanotechnology including the most common types of nanoparticles ( metal nanoparticles, liposomes, nanocrystals and polymeric nanoparticles ) and their advantages as drug delivery systems. Next, the nanoparticle design principles and the routes of administration of nanoparticles ( parental, oral, pulmonary and transdermal ) are discussed.
Q3. What are the properties of nanoparticles that affect their removal?
The properties of nanoparticles that affect their removal are mainly based on size, shape, composition, charge, and surface chemistry.
Q4. What are the benefits of controlled release?
Controlled release is especially beneficial for those drugs whose half-life in the blood is relatively low due to a high rate of metabolism and elimination by the body.
Q5. What is the rationale for the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems?
The justification for the use of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems lies in at least three mechanisms: (i) Enhanced Penetration and Retention (EPR) of nanoparticles in solid tumors; (ii) The possibility of transporting insoluble drugs in the blood through stable colloidal systems and (iii) the controlled release thereof.
Q6. What is the role of nanotechnology in medicine?
Particularly in the field of medicine, nanotechnology has the potential to generate a significant impact on human health, being able to improve the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases.
Q7. What is the role of the kidney in removing foreign substances?
Total blood flow must pass through the liver, making it a central organ to monitor the blood for endogenous, foreign substances and particles that must be removed for physiological reasons.
Q8. What are the main reasons for the popularity of metallic nanoparticles?
despite the great boom in metallic nanoparticles due to their long history and simplicity in terms of their synthesis, they present toxicity problems in prolonged use as they cannot be biodegraded [29–31].
Q9. What is the main question in the use of nanoparticles in humans?
a relevant question in the use of nanoparticles in humans is how these biological systems can eliminate nanoparticles once their functions have been fulfilled.
Q10. How did the researchers determine the aerosolization performance of the particles?
The researchers concluded that the particles showed a high aerosolization performance through in vitro lung deposition measurement, which is at the level of commercially available dry powder inhalers.
Q11. What is the main purpose of evasion of the immune system?
This evasion of the immune system tries to increase the circulation time of the nanoparticles in the body and, consequently, the chances that they find the target tissue while they circulate through the bloodstream.
Q12. What is the current status of the FDA's approval of nanomedicines?
Since then and until April 2016, more than 50 nanomedicines of different kinds have been approved by the FDA and this is expected to be only the beginning of the near future [15].
Q13. What is the role of surfactants in the development of liposomes?
At present, there have been technological advances that have managed to use various natural or synthetic lipids, as well as surfactants to modify the physicochemical properties of liposomes, giving rise to the second and third generation of them [36].
Q14. What is the definition of nanoparticle engineering?
From this point of view, nanoparticle engineering is based on “programming” with predetermined instructions the self-assembly of atoms or molecules in such a way that the desired nanoparticles are the final product.
Q15. What is the role of the iron oxide nanoparticles in the treatment of SARS-?
molecular docking studies propose the reuse of these nanoparticles to combat the current global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 [28].