Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery (eBook)

This book covers basic aspects of different nanoparticles, including type of materials, lipid, polymeric and inorganic structures, synthesis strategies, as well as the main physicochemical characterization techniques. Moreover, this book addresses applications for both treatment and diagnosis of diseases, highlighting in vitro and in vivo findings and clinical evaluation. The chapters highlight the main barriers for drug delivery which can benefit from nanoencapsulation: the topical and oral routes. The main innovations in the field, such as gene therapy and functionalization of nanoparticles with a variety of moieties, including monoclonal antibodies for selective delivery, are discussed and illustrated with examples. Finally, the application of nanoparticles for drug delivery to cancer is reviewed considering toxicology and regulatory aspects.

Josimar Eloy is a Professor at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), in Fortaleza, Brazil, working in the area of pharmaceutical technology and nanotechnology. His current research involves the strategy of functionalization of drug nanocarriers for targeting, evaluated in models in vitro (cytotoxicity and cell uptake by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy) and in vivo, using xenograft models in mice for breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Juliana Abriata is a postdoc student at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Her research work focuses on development, characterization (drug quantification by HPLC, particle size by dynamic light scattering, in vitro release studies, calorimetric analysis, DSC and TGA, infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy) and evaluation of nanocarrier systems for ovarian cancer therapy and Chagas disease.

Juliana Marchetti is an Associated Professor of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, USP, working in the pharmacy area with an emphasis on Pharmaceutical Technology and Nanotechnology. Her research focus on the development and evaluation of systemic delivery systems, whose objectives include the development, characterization and evaluation of polymeric micro- and nanoparticles, long-circulation micelles, liposomes, thermoreversible gels, complexes with cyclodextrins and with dendrimers aiming at the optimization of Cancer Therapy, Chagas Disease, Tuberculosis and Hormone Replacement Therapy. She is an expert on spectroscopic, calorimetric, microscopic techniques (Scanning Electron Microscopy), evaluation of rheological behavior, in vitro (dissolution and release and biodegradation studies) and in vivo (histocompatibility, bioavailability, biodistribution and anti-tumor activity) assays.