Title: Polymeric micro and nanoparticles as promising drug delivery vehicles: a review

Authors: Ahmed Suliman Hussein; Norhafizah Abdullah; Fakhru'l-Razi Ahmadun

Addresses: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia; Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. ' Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Development of a successful delivery system capable of delivering an active agent to its targeted site at right concentration and time remains a challenge especially in the field of pharmaceutics where most drugs lack specificity and some side effects may exist. In the last few years, the recent advances in the field of nanotechnology led to the generation of promising particulate polymeric delivery systems. Among these systems biodegradable micro and nanoparticles are the most extensively investigated ones. They proved to be capable of improving the drug administration, efficacy and safety compared to conventional therapeutics. The present review highlights the various aspects of development, preparation methods and advantages of the biodegradable particulate delivery systems. More focus will be on poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(glycolic acid) (PGA) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide acid) (PLGA)-based delivery systems.

Keywords: poly(lactide-co-glycolide); PLGA; PLA; PGA; biodegradable nanoparticles; microparticles; drug delivery; nanotechnology; particulate delivery systems; polymeric delivery systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2012.049909

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2012 Vol.5 No.4, pp.316 - 337

Received: 26 Aug 2011
Accepted: 24 Dec 2011
Published online: 20 Aug 2014 *

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