Preface

Drug delivery technology has witnessed a number of advancements purported to cater to the customized needs of its ultimate beneficiaries-the patients. Nowadays, dosage forms are not confined to conventional tablets, capsules or injectables, but have evolved to cover novel drug carriers such as particulates, vesicles and many others. Nanotechnological advancements have played a major role in this paradigm shift in ways of delivering active pharmaceutical ingredients; as researchers across the globe continue striving to provide site-specific (targeted) drug in the treatment of diseases.

A new dimension in the use of food as medicine has also gained prominence in recent years. A portmanteau of nutrition and pharmaceuticals is "nutraceuticals," also known as functional foods and dietary supplements. The technologies which were earlier included in drug delivery parlance have been attempted for delivery of nutraceuticals as well. Herbal actives have received increased attention due to their low risk to benefit ratio.

The health of an individual should allow the performance of routine roles/responsibilities in a smooth manner. Any physiological disease/disorder may lead to impairment of the normal functioning of the human body. Since the beginning of human civilization, humans have acquired knowledge about medicines derived from mother nature, and researchers across the globe have served mankind by developing a number of natural and synthetic/ semi-synthetic medicines. Nowadays, food is also considered as a medicine, which has opened several avenues of possibilities in the domain of nutraceuticals, functional foods and dietary supplements. The field of drug delivery is quite dynamic in nature, as witnessed by its evolution from conventional dosage forms to nanotechnology-assisted drug products. A variety of formulations via different drug delivery routes have been developed with the objective to treat/cure/mitigate diseases or disorders.

This book is a compilation of information relevant to drug delivery systems with an emphasis on products based on nanotechnology. The contributors are from a diverse pool of academic and industrial researchers from different geographical locations across the globe. The 27 chapters described below compile novel strategies for drug delivery and embrace the development of formulations with herbal ingredients. Several chapters also highlight disease therapeutics.

• Chapter 1 gives an overview of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. Several nanomaterials, such as liposomes, nanoparticles, aquasomes, nanogels, nanoemulsions, nanotubes, quantum dots, etc., are described that were found to have important roles in drug delivery to humans and animals. The general features, types and applications in drug delivery have been mentioned where applicable.
• Chapter 2 discusses the incorporation of nanotechnology into the medical profession, which has resulted in the emergence of new multidisciplinary fields of nanomedicine such as nanopharmaceuticals. The formulation and evaluation of nanopharmaceuticals are addressed from a regulatory perspective for market authorization of the same.
• Chapter 3 discusses current and future scenarios of nanopharmaceuticals. Potential challenges in commercialization of nanotechnology-based products are listed; and therapeutic applications of nanopharmaceuticals with site-specific drug delivery are also mentioned.
• Chapter 4 offers a detailed description of the regulatory status of nanomedicines. It delineates the threats and opportunities for successful licensing in different markets. Newer approaches, such as personalized medicines, nano-robots and devices, lab-on-a-chip technologies and gene/protein delivery, are also mentioned in the latter half of the chapter.
• Chapter 5 discusses several highly effective herbal pharmaceuticals produced at nanoscale level with improved bioavailability, in-vitro, in-vivo, and clinical efficacy. Phytoconstituents with pharmacological activity are also discussed in detail.
• Chapter 6 describes the use of nanotechnology as a tool to deliver nutraceuticals. It also focuses on the drawbacks associated with nutraceuticals and presents different nanosystems (lipid, polymeric or inorganic) that have been used to improve their biopharmaceutical and health properties.
• Chapter 7 offers relevant information on herbal actives confined in nanosystems. The types, preparation and applications for improved bioavailability and reduction in toxicity are discussed.
• Chapter 8 entails topical drug delivery approaches for treatment of skin cancer. In particular, the chapter describes liposomes and liquid crystals as topical formulations which are derived using nanotechnology.
• Chapter 9 presents an overview of vesicular carriers for control of arthritis. Vesicular systems are particularly significant for targeted delivery of drugs due to their ability to carry the drug to a particular site or organ of action, thus lowering its concentration in other sites of the body. Various pharmaceutical carriers, such as particulate systems, polymeric micelles, and macro- and micromolecules, are presented in the form of a novel drug delivery system.
• Chapter 10 is about the use of novel drug delivery systems for fungal infestations. Nanotechnology in drug delivery has opened new paths in antifungal therapy, especially in the immunocompromised population, where drug toxicity has been a major concern.
• Chapter 11 outlines various nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches against tuberculosis (TB) and the challenges to their implementation. The chapter begins with an introduction to TB, its etiology and traditional therapeutic regimen. Subsequent text deliberates on nanotechnology in the treatment/control of TB.
• Chapter 12 addresses the issue of drug-resistant bacterial infections via nanotechnological interventions. It includes recent advances in stimuli-responsive antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles which deliver targeted therapy by recognizing the presence of bacteria. Surface engineering the nanoparticles enables customizing the biological and physical properties of nanoparticles as well as attaching specific ligands.
• Chapter 13 details the use of emulgels as a topical delivery system for treatment of different ailments. Emulgel is one of the innovative formulations commonly utilized for fungal infections, acne, psoriasis and other topical diseases. The chapter begins with an introduction to emulgels and then discusses the types, formulation aspects, evaluation and applications.
• Chapter 14 is about a special nanotechnological advancement known as electrospun nanofibers. Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabricating native tissue-like nanofibrous scaffolds. The chapter introduces this nanocarrier along with the types, polymers used for its formulation and therapeutic applications.
• Chapter 15 contains basic information on nanotechnology, the need for emerging nanotechnologies, and the classifications of nanoparticles. The authors discuss different types of nanotechnology-based materials used in drug delivery, such as liposomes, dendrimers and micelles, and their properties and applications. The chapter also discusses the merits of nanoparticles over traditional drug carriers and the toxicity potential of these nanometric artefacts.
• Chapter 16 describes nanomedicines and covers various aspects concerning their historical progress, rationale and mechanism of action, applications, toxicity and ethical concerns. It presents a concise audit of nanomedicines that accentuates different viewpoints related, for example, to presentation, foundation, objective, physiological standards of nanomedicine, etc. The chapter also delves into the concept of nanotoxicology from nanomedicines and non-clinical nanoparticles.
• Chapter 17 entails the topical applications of nanocarriers in treatment of acne. The chapter begins with an introduction to acne therapeutics and then moves on to nanocarriers. Afterwards, a toxicity profile based on animal and clinicals studies as evaluation criteria is given. A vis-a-via comparison of conventional and nanocarrier-based dosage forms is presented in subsequent sections of the chapter.
• Chapter 18 offers an overview of ocular drug delivery incorporating nanotechnology principles. The authors provide information on the anatomy of the eye with prevailing drug delivery systems. The successive text is relevant to applications of various nanotechnology-based drug carriers for treatment of ocular diseases.
• Chapter 19 discusses microparticulate drug carriers in detail. Following their introduction to microspheres, the authors present an exhaustive overview of their advantages, types, evaluation characteristics and applications.
• Chapter 20 focuses on drug carriers in oral biofilm infectious diseases. The authors discuss the role of biofilms in oral cavity infections. Furthermore, novel drug carriers are mentioned in relation to their utility in countering oral biofilm infections. The information provided will be helpful in identifying the most effective treatment using drug delivery systems, which has definitely become a trend in dentistry and the oral health sector.
• Chapter 21 discusses oral drug delivery in a detailed fashion. The authors describe the inherent physicochemical properties of oral biomembranes and drug molecules, which are in fact vital variables in the success of any delivery system. Thereafter, the chapter discusses different drug delivery systems purported to...