Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. Measured in nanometers (billionths of a meter), nanoparticles are around 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a single human hair. At this minute scale, entirely new properties emerge that are changing the face of medicine. By harnessing nanoscale effects, drug delivery can now be tailored with unprecedented precision.
Targeted Therapy with Nanotechnology Drug Delivery
One of the great promises of nanotechnology is targeted drug delivery. Conventional drug molecules disperse throughout the body, requiring high doses to achieve a therapeutic effect at their intended site of action. However, they also expose healthy tissues to potentially toxic side effects. Nanoparticles can be engineered to actively seek out diseased cells or tissues, potentially delivering medicine more efficiently while reducing systemic side effects.
Targeting is achieved by functionalizing the nanoparticle surface. Ligands such as antibodies can direct delivery to specific cell surface receptors that are upregulated on diseased cells. The nanoparticle thus acts as a "Trojan horse" to transport the drug payload past biological barriers and release it exclusively at the target site. This targeted approach has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and many other diseases.
Nanotechnology Drug Delivery Controlled and Sustained Release
Nanotechnology Drug Delivery also enable sophisticated control over drug release kinetics. Some designs allow an initial burst of drug release followed by sustained, prolonged low-level release over days or even months. This "booster shot" effect achieved from a single administration improves patient compliance compared to multiple daily doses. Control can be tuned by varying the particle composition, structure, and drug encapsulation method.
Stimulus-responsive "smart" nanoparticles take delivery precision even further. They are engineered to undergo controlled breakdown solely in response to specific molecular cues found in their local microenvironment, such as at sites of inflammation or tumors. This extreme site-specific activation allows drugs to be released only when and where needed. Controlled and sustained release using nanotechnology holds great promise for improving treatment of conditions requiring long-term medication like tuberculosis.
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