Nanobiotechnology

Prakash Chandra, PhD

Delhi Technological University
 Nanobiotechnology
Nanotechnology+ Biotechnology= Nanobiotechnolgy

Integration of nano-sized/structured materials, nano-scale analytical tools,

and nano-devices into biological sciences for development of new
biomaterials and analytical toolkits as well as for understanding life
science

Typical characteristics of Biological events/materials

- Self assembly
- Highly efficient
- Very specific : extremely precise
 What is Nanotechnogy ?
 Nanotechnology deals with the creation of USEFUL
materials, devices and systems using the particles of
nanometer length (1-100 nm) scale and exploitation of
NOVEL properties (physical, chemical, biological) at that
length scale

“Art and science of manipulating atoms and

molecules to create new systems, materials,
and devices”
 History of Nanotechnology
• ~ 2000 Years Ago – Sulfide nanocrystals used by Greeks and
Romans to dye hair
• ~ 1000 Years Ago (Middle Ages) – Gold nanoparticles of
different sizes used to produce different colors in stained glass
windows
• 1959 – “There is plenty of room at the bottom” by R. Feynman
• 1974 – “Nanotechnology” - Taniguchi uses the term
nanotechnology for the first time
• 1981 – IBM develops Scanning Tunneling Microscope
• 1985 – “Buckyball” - Scientists at Rice University and University
of Sussex discover C60
• 1986 – “Engines of Creation” - First book on nanotechnology by
K. Eric Drexler. Atomic Force Microscope invented by Binnig,
Quate and Gerbe
• 1989 – IBM logo made with individual atoms
• 1991 – Carbon nanotube discovered by S. Iijima
• 1999 – “Nanomedicine” – 1st nanomedicine book by R. Freitas
What is Nanoscale
 What is Nanoscale

Fullerenes C60

12,756 Km 22 cm 0.7 nm

1.27 × 107 m 0.22 m 0.7 × 10-9 m

10 millions times 1 billion times

smaller smaller
The color of gold changes as the particle size changes
at the nanometer scale
 Why is Small Good?

 - Faster
 - Lighter
 - Can get into small spaces
 - Cheaper
 - More energy efficient
 - Different properties for very small structures
 Nanoscale Size Effect

 Realization of miniaturized devices and systems while providing more

functionality

 Attainment of high surface area to volume ratio

 Manifestation of novel phenomena and properties, including changes in:
- Physical Properties (e.g. melting point)
- Chemical Properties (e.g. reactivity)
- Electrical Properties (e.g. conductivity)
- Mechanical Properties (e.g. strength)
- Optical Properties (e.g. light emission)
How do you build something so small?

“Top-down” – building something by starting with a larger piece and

carving away material (like a sculpture)

“Bottom-up” – building something by putting together smaller

pieces (like building a car engine).
 Nanoscale Processes and Fabrication

Top-down Approaches Bottom-up Approaches

Optical and x-ray lithography Layer-by-layer self assembly

E-beam and ion-beam lithography Molecular self assembly

Scanning probe lithography Direct assembly

Atomic force microscopic lithography Coating and growth

Material removal and deposition
Colloidal aggregation
(Chemical, mechanical, or ultrasonic)

Printing and imprinting

Nanoscale Processes and Fabrication
Top-down Approaches Bottom-up Approaches

Advantage Once Research and Development Self-Assembly processes

complete and manufacturing line is Less product defects
complete costs drop bulk
production
Disadvantage Contamination Not very robust products
Machine Cost Lengthy process to obtain
Complexity nanoparticles
Clean room cost and complexity
Physical limits
Material damage
Surface imperfections
Heat dissipation
Nanotechnology Applications
Information Technology Energy
• More efficient and cost
• Smaller, faster, more
effective technologies for
energy efficient and
energy production
powerful computing
− Solar cells
and other IT-based − Fuel cells
systems − Batteries
− Bio fuels

Medicine Consumer Goods

• Cancer treatment • Foods and beverages
−Advanced packaging materials,
• Bone treatment sensors, and lab-on-chips for
• Drug delivery food quality testing
• Appetite control • Appliances and textiles
• Drug development −Stain proof, water proof and
• Medical tools wrinkle free textiles
• Diagnostic tests • Household and cosmetics
• Imaging − Self-cleaning and scratch free
products, paints, and better
cosmetics
 Bionanotechnology
 Bionanotechnology is a division of nanotechnology which uses
biological starting materials, and it keeps exciting opportunities to
bring high-impact advances in the field of bioengineering and
medicine.

 Bionanotechnology— is a term coined for the area of study where

nanotechnology has applications in the field of biology and medical
sciences.

 One can also say that “Bionanotechnology” is derived by the

combination of two terms: “nanotechnology,” and “biotechnology”
 Bionanomaterials
 Bionanomaterials are molecular materials composed partially or
completely of biological molecules (such as antibodies,
proteins/enzymes, DNA, RNA, lipids, oligosaccharides, viruses, and
cells for example) and resulting in molecular structures having a
nanoscale-dimension(s).
Potential applications
 novel fibers
 sensors
 adhesives
 energy generating and/or harnessing materials
 Applications
 Bio-nanotechnology promises a vast array of commercial and medical
applications.
 Therapeutic applications
 Diagnostic applications (Nanopore , nanoarrays)

 Nanotherapeutics

 Nanotherapeutics is an application of bionanotechnology in which the

diseases can be treated by the use of various techniques at molecular
level.
 Gene therapy
 It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible
for disease development

 There are four approaches:

1. A normal gene inserted to compensate for a nonfunctional gene.
2. An abnormal gene traded for a normal gene
3. An abnormal gene repaired through selective reverse mutation
4. Change the regulation of gene pairs
 How it works
 A vector delivers the therapeutic gene into a patient’s target cell
 The target cells become infected with the viral vector
 The vector’s genetic material is inserted into the target cell
 Functional proteins are created from the therapeutic gene causing the
cell to return to a normal state
 Vectors
 Viruses
 Adenovirus
 Retroviruses
 Herpes simplex viruses
 Non-Viral vectors
 Direct introduction of therapeutic DNA
 But only with certain tissue
 Requires a lot of DNA
 Creation of artificial lipid sphere with aqueous core, liposome
 Carries therapeutic DNA through membrane
 Chemically linking DNA to molecule that will bind to special cell
receptors
 DNA is engulfed by cell membrane
 Less effective
 Stem cells
 Stem cells are the second type of vectors that are used by the scientists.
Stem cells have the capability of separate or develop into cells with
different functions.

 In this technique, stem cells are manipulated in the lab to facilitate the
acceptance of new genes, and this technique could make the previously
missed or altered genes which are effective to chemotherapy.
 Immunotherapy
 Immunotherapy is defined as the treating the disease by inducing,
enhancing, or suppressing an immune response. It is therapy that uses
certain parts of the immune system to fight diseases.
 This can be done through two ways
 Stimulating our own immune system to function harder or better
(Active immunotherapy)
 Providing you immune system components, such as man-made
immune system proteins (Passive immunotherapy)


 Now a day’s Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) are generally usefull tools

for immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibody therapy uses antibodies
which are made in the lab rather than by a person's own immune
system. After the antibodies are given, they can then recruit other parts
of the immune system to destroy the disease causing cells.
 Challenges
 Monitoring the exposure of nanoscale engineered to humans in the air
and within water. The challenge becomes increasingly difficult in
more complex matrices like food.
 Developing and validating methods to evaluate the toxicity of
engineered nano-materials.
 Constructing models for predicting the potential impact of
engineered nano-materials on the environment and human health.
 Educating people about the pros and cons for nanotechnology.
 Defining areas applicable to nanotechnology with regulations and
laws. Overemphasized functions of nanotechnology should be
prohibited.
 Various Nanomaterials in
Nanotechnology

Based on the size and shape, the Nano materials are classified as follows

 Nanoparticles  Nanotubes
 Nanocapsules  Nanosprings
 Nanofibers  Nanobelts
 Nanowires  Quantum dots
 Fullerenes (carbon 60)  Nanofluidics
 Nanoscale Materials
Nanoscale materials have feature size less than 100 nm –
utilized in nanoscale structures, devices and systems
Nanoparticles and Structures

A stadium shaped “quantum A 3-dimensional nanostructure

Gold nanoparticles Silver nanoparticles
corral” made by positioning grown by controlled
iron atoms on a copper nucleation of Silicon-carbide
surface nanowires on Gallium catalyst
particles
 Nanoscale Materials

Nanowires and Nanotubes

 Lateral dimension: 1 – 100 nm

 Nanowires and nanotubes exhibit

novel physical, electronic and

optical properties due to
 Structural one dimensionality
 High surface to volume ratio
 Potential application in wide range of
nanodevices and systems
 Nanoscale sensors and actuators
 Photovoltaic devices – solar cells Nanowire Solar Cell: The
 Transistors, diodes and LASERs nanowires create a surface that is
able to absorb more sunlight than a
flat surface
 Nanoscale Materials
Protein

Bionanomaterials
 Biological materials utilized in
nanotechnology
- Proteins, enzymes, DNA, RNA, peptides
Cross-linked enzymes used
 Synthetic nanomaterials utilized in as catalyst

biomedical applications
- Polymers, porous silicon, carbon
nanotubes

Enzymes
are used as
oxidation Bone cell on porous silicon
Porous silicon (PSi) catalysts
Human cell on PSi
 Nanoscale Devices and Integrated
Nanosystems

Nanochip
− Currently available microprocessors use resolutions as
small as 32 nm
− Houses up to a billion transistors in a single chip
− MEMS based nanochips have future capability of 2 nm
cell leading to 1TB memory per chip A MEMS based nanochip

Nanoelectromechanical System (NEMS)

Sensors
− NEMS technology enables creation of ultra small and
highly sensitive sensors for various applications
− The NEMS force sensor shown in the figure is
applicable in pathogenic bacteria detection
A NEMS bacteria sensor
 Nanoscale Devices and Integrated
Nanosystems

Nanophotonic Systems
− Nanophotonic systems work with light signals vs.
electrical signals in electronic systems
− Enable parallel processing that means higher
A silicon processor featuring on-chip
computing capability in a smaller chip nanophotonic network
− Enable realization of optical systems on
semiconductor chip

Fuel Cells
− Fuel cells use hydrogen and air as fuels and
produce water as by product
− The technology uses a nanomaterial membrane
Schematic of a fuel cell 500 W fuel cell
to produce electricity
 Nanoscale Devices and Integrated
Nanosystems

Lab on Chip
− A lab on chip integrates one or more laboratory operation
on a single chip
− Provides fast result and easy operation
− Applications: Biochemical analysis (DNA/protein/cell
analysis) and bio-defense
Lab on chip
Drug Delivery Systems
Impact of nanotechnology on drug delivery systems:
− Targeted drug delivery
− Improved delivery of poorly water soluble drugs
− Co-delivery of two or more drugs
− Imaging of drug delivery sites using imaging modalities
Targeted drug delivery
 Medical Applications

Nanometer-sized particles have optical, magnetic, chemical

and structural properties that set them apart from bulk solids,
with potential applications in medicine.
• Potential applications
DRUG DELIVERY MEDICAL IMAGING

DIAGNOSIS & SENSING THERAPY

 Drug Delivery

Because of their small sizes, nanoparticles are taken by cells where large particles
would be excluded or cleared from the body
1
1) A nanoparticle carries the pharmaceutical
agent inside its core, while its shell is
functionalized with a ‘binding’ agent
2
2) Through the ‘binding’ agent, the ‘targeted’
nanoparticle recognizes the target cell. The
functionalized nanoparticle shell interacts
with the cell membrane
3
3) The nanoparticle is ingested inside the cell,
and interacts with the biomolecules inside the
cell
4
4) The nanoparticle particles breaks, and the
pharmaceutical agent is released
 Drug Delivery Nanoparticle

A. Nanoparticles for drug delivery can be metal-, polymer-, or lipid-based. Below (left) an
example of the latter, containing SiRNA encapsulated, and functionalized with an specific
antibody. SiRNA can control often lethal inflammatory body responses, as shown in the
microscopic images below (right)
B. C.
antibody
lipid

SiRNA

Healthy tissue Sick tissue treated with non-targeted

nanoparticles

Sick tissue treated with targeted nanoparticles

 Medical Imaging
A. Optical properties of nanoparticles depend greatly on its structure. Particularly, the color
(wavelength) emitted by a quantum dot (a semiconductor nanoparticle) depends on its
diameter.
C. The quantum dots (QD) can be injected to a
B. subject, and then be detected by exciting them to
emit light

CdSe nanoparticle (QD) structure

Imaging of QD’s targeted on cellular structures

Solutions of CdSe QD’s of different diameter

 Targeting QD’s for intracellular
imaging
A. Using a drug-delivery-like mechanism, a targeted lipid-based nanoparticle (TNP) encapsulating
QD’s specifically ‘attacks’ a cell having the receptors that pair with its ligand coating. Upon ingestion
and destruction of the TNP, the QD’s are set free and accumulate on intracellular structures
Ligand coated
B. QDNC

Ingestion

Decomposition C. QD (red)intracellular uptake is enhanced

when using the QDNC instead of the free QD’s

labeling

QD release
D. Imaging of nucleus (blue) and cytoplasm
(other) after 30 min (left) and 3 hours after
uptake
 Nanoparticles in action
A. Modifying a ferromagnetic nanoparticle with human immunoglobulin G (IgC), which
specifically binds the protein A in the cellular wall of staphylococcus, the bacteria can be
detected through a MRI test
B. C.

Accumulation of functionalized ferromagnetic

nanoparticles on staphylococcus

Negligible accumulation of nanoparticles in Directed accumulation of dangerous bacteria by

absence of functionalization conjugation with functionalized magnetic nanoparticles
 Nanotechnology in Health
Care
• Thermal ablation of cancer
cells
− Nanoshells coated with metallic
outer layer and silica core
− Selectively attracted to cancer
shells either through enhanced
permeation retention or due to
some molecules coated on the
shells
− The nanoshells are heated with Thermal ablation of cancer cells assisted
an external energy (NIR) source by nanoshells coated with metallic layer
and an external energy source
killing the cancer cells
 Nanotechnology in Health
Care
Nanotechnology offers tools and
techniques for more effective
detection, diagnosis and The microfluidic channel with nanowire
sensor can detect the presence of altered
treatment of diseases genes associated with cancer

Detection and Diagnosis

• Lab on chips help detection and
diagnosis of diseases.
• Nanowire and cantilever lab on chips
help in early detection of cancer The nanoscale cantilever detects the
presence and concentration of various
biomarkers. molecular expressions of a cancer cell
 Nanomaterials in
Health Care
 Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary field, convergence of basic
sciences and applied disciplines like biophysics, molecular biology,
and bioengineering.
 It has created powerful impact in various fields of medicine including
cardiology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, oncology, pulmology,
immunology etc., and to highly specialized areas like gene delivery,
brain targeting, tumor targeting, and oral vaccine formulations.
 Nanotechnology provides intelligent systems, devices and materials
for better pharmaceutical applications
 A large number of nanosystems, which have been investigated in
pharmacy are liposomes, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles,
polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots,
nanofibres etc.
 Current applications of
nanotechnology in medical field
 Nanomedicine,
 Tissue Engineering,
 Nanorobots,
 Advance Diagnostic, As Carrier of Diagnostic ,
 Therapeutic Modalities
 Biosensor,
 Biomarker,
 Image Enhancement Device,
 Implant Technology
 Bioactive Surfaces Etc.
 Nanosizing effect
 Increase drug targeting ability
 Reduce the dose needed
 Enhance oral bioavailability
 Decrease toxicity
 Enhance solubility
 Increase the stability of drug and formulation
 Increase surface area
 Enhance rate of dissolution
 Decrease drug resistance
 Increase patient compliance
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
 Pharmaceutical nanotechnology provides two basic types
of nanotools
1) Nanomaterials
2) Nanodevices

Nanomaterials are biomaterials used, in orthopedic or dental implants or

as scaffolds for tissue-engineered products.
 Their surface modifications or coatings might greatly enhance the
biocompatibility by favoring the interaction of living cells with the
biomaterial.
 These materials can be sub classified into Nanocrystalline and
Nanostructured materials.
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
 Nanocrystalline materials are readily manufactured and can substitute
the less performing bulk materials, used in drug encapsulation, bone
replacements, prostheses.

 Nanostructured materials are processed forms of raw nanomaterials

that provide special shapes or functionality, for example quantum
dots, dendrimers, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.

 Nanodevices are miniature devices in the nanoscale and some of

which include nano- and micro-electromechanical systems (NEMS/
MEMS), microfluidics(control and manipulation of micro or nanolitre
of fluids), and microarrays(different kind of biological assay e.g.
DNA, protein, cell, and antibody ).
 Nanosystems
Nanotechnology

Nanomaterials Nanodevices

Nanocrystaline Nanostructured NEMS/MEMS Respirocytes Microarray

Polymer Non-Polymer

Nonoparticle Micelle Carbon Quantum

Drug
nanotube dot
conjugate
Dendrimer Metalic Silica
nanoparticle Nanoparticle
Targeting Ligands
Liposome's
 Liposome's

 Exterior lipid bilayer is very chemically reactive, thereby providing a means to

conveniently couple “tags” on a covalent basis.

 Such “tags” can be antibodies, antigens, cell receptors, nucleic acid probes, etc.

 This provides significant versatility in assay formats (i.e., immunoassay, receptor-

based, nucleic acid probe, etc.) possible.

 With diameters ranging in size from approximately 50 nm to 800 nm, their

aqueous core encapsulates up to millions of molecules of signal generating
“markers” that can be detected in a variety of different way.

 A variety of different encapsulants are possible including visually detectable dyes

(since the lipid bilayer is transparent), optically and fluorometrically detectable
dyes, enzymes, and electroactive compounds.
Dendrimers
 Dendrimers

 Dendrimers are hyperbranched, tree-like structures and have compartmentalized

chemical polymer. Dendrimer contain three different regions: core, branches, and
surface.
 Dendrimers have a high degree of molecular uniformity, narrow molecular weight
distribution, specific size and shape characteristics, and a highly- functionalized
terminal surface.
 They can be tailored or modified into biocompatible compounds with low
cytotoxicity and high biopermeability.
 They bear promising properties for delivery of bioactives ranging from drugs,
vaccines, metal, and genes to desired sites.
 Their hollow interior provides space to incorporate drugs and other bioactive
physically or by various interactions to act as drug delivery vehicles.
 Most important applications of dendrimers are solubilization, gene therapy,
dendrimer based drug delivery, immunoassay and MRI contrast agent.
Polymeric Nanoparticles
 Polymeric Nanoparticles

Polymeric nanoparticles consists of inherent properties like biocompatibility,

nonimmunogenicity, nontoxicity and biodegradability.
Applications in drug targeting to particular organs/tissues, as carriers of DNA

in gene therapy, and in their ability to deliver proteins, peptides and genes
through a per oral route of administration.
These are colloidal carrier, 10 nm -1μm in size, consisting of synthetic or

natural polymers.
Fullerene C 60
 Fullerene C 60

 C60 are spherical molecules about 1nm in diameter, comprising 60 carbon

atoms arranged as 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons: the configuration of a
football.

 Hence they find application as Nano Pharmaceuticals with large drug

payload in their cage like structure.

 On the other hand with development of various chemical substitutes for

C60, it is possible to develop functionalized C60 with better drug targeting
properties.
Carbon Nanotube
 Carbon Nanotube

 Carbon nanotubes are adept at entering the nuclei of cells and can be used
to deliver drugs and vaccines.

 There are two types of nanotubes: single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and

multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs), which differ in the arrangement of
their graphene cylinders.

 Nanotubes offer some distinct advantages over other drug delivery and
diagnostic systems due to very interesting physicochemical properties such
as ordered structure with high aspect ratio, ultra-light weight, high
mechanical strength, high electrical conductivity, high thermal
conductivity, metallic or semi-metallic behavior and high surface area .
Nanopowder
 Nanopowder
 Nanopowders are powders composed of nanoparticles, that is particles having an
average diameter below 50 nanometers (nm).

 A jar of a true nanopowder when emptied from chest height to toward the floor will
disperse into the air before reaching the floor.

 Most manufacturers of “nanopowders” produce micropowder assemblies of

nanoparticles.
Nanocluster
 Nanocluster

 One of the central themes in nanoscience research is to synthesize high quality

nanoparticles with precise control over particle size, shape, structure, and
composition.

 For inorganic nanoparticles (e.g. metal and semiconductor), two regimes are of
particular interest, that is, nanoclusters in a size range from subnanometer to ~2 nm
and nanocrystals (typically 2-100 nm).
 Nanocrystals

 When the size of the material is reduced to less than 100 nanometers, the realm of
quantum physics takes over and materials begin to demonstrate entirely new
properties.

 Nano-design of drugs by various techniques like milling, high pressure

homogenization, controlled precipitation etc., are explored to produce, drug
nanocrystals, nanoparticles, nanoprecipitates, nanosuspensions (which for ease of
understanding commonly mentioned as nanocrystals).

 As decreased size will increase the solubility of drugs hence, this technology is
explored to increase oral bioavailability of sparingly water soluble drugs.
 Quantum Dots
Quantum dots:
 Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting materials consisting of a
semiconductor core (CdSe), coated by a shell (e.g., ZnS) to improve
optical properties, and a cap enabling improved solubility in aqueous
buffers.
 They are neither atomic nor bulk semiconductors. Their properties
originate from their physical size, which ranges from 10–100 Å in
radius.
 Due to their bright fluorescence, narrow emission, broad UV
excitation and high photostability QDs have been adopted for in vitro
bioimaging for real time monitoring or tracking of intracellular process
for longer time
 Quantum Dots

Size dependent representation of Quantum dots

 Quantum Dots
 Quantum-dots have a large impact on some important development in
different medical areas like
 Diagnostic tools (magnetic resonance imaging, MRI)
 in vitro and in vivo detection and analysis of biomolecules,
immunoassays, DNA hybridization
 Development of non-viral vectors for gene therapy
 Transport vehicles for DNA, protein, drugs or cells
 Fluorescence imaging of tissue, labeling of cells and as therapeutic
tools for cancer treatment .
 Nanocapsules
 Nanocapsules are systems in which the drug is confined to a cavity
surrounded by unique polymeric membrane whereas nanospheres are
systems in which the drug is dispersed through out the polymer matrix.

 The various natural polymers like gelatin, albumin and alginate are
used to prepare the nanoparticles; however they have some inherent
disadvantages like poor batch-to-batch reproducibility, prone to
degradation and potential antigenicity.

120 nm radius and 35 nm shell thickness 100 nm radius and 20 nm shell thickness
 Nanopore
Single-stranded
DNA molecule

A Single-
T A stranded
C DNA
Nanopore G Nanopore
molecule

T
Nanopore

Single-stranded
DNA molecule
Nanostructured Surfaces
 Surface treatment
 Bioactive
 Hydrophilic
 Nano-structured surface of implants
 Bone and dental implants
 Metallic Nanoparticles
 Metallic nanoparticles are emerging as good delivery carrier for
drug and biosensor.
 Although nanoparticles of various metals have been made yet silver
and gold nanoparticles are of prime importance for biomedical use.
 They have been used for active delivery of bioactive, drug discovery,
bioassays, detection, imaging and many other applications due to
surface functionalization ability, as an alternative to quantum-dots .
 Polyplexes/Lipopolyplexes
These are assemblies, which form spontaneously between nucleic
acids and polycations or cationic liposomes (or polycations
conjugated to targeting ligands or hydrophilic polymers), and are used
in transfection protocols.

 The shape, size distribution, and transfection capability of these

complexes depends on their composition and charge ratio of nucleic
acid to that of cationic lipid/polymer.

 Examples of polycations that have been used in gene

transfer/therapy protocols include poly-L-lysine, linear- and
branched-poly (ethyleneimine), poly (amidoamine), poly-amino esters,
and cationic cyclodextrin.
Brief descriptions of
nanosystems
Brief descriptions of
nanosystems
Brief descriptions of
nanosystems
Brief descriptions of
nanosystems
 Engineering of
Pharmaceutical Nanosystems
 Most of the nanosystems discussed above are not very efficient in
biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to non-specific uptake
by reticulo endothelial system (RES); opsonization, aggregation
and poor biocompatibility associated with them.

 However, manipulations in their size and surface by biocompatible

polymers, hydrophilic polymers and some site-specific ligands
render them efficient delivery vehicle for various drugs and utilized for
various biomedical applications.
 Applications of
Pharmaceutical Nanotools
 Some examples of such manipulations are discussed hear.

Functional nanosystems:
 Modification in properties by incorporation, adsorption or covalent
coupling by moieties like polymers and/or ligands to nanoparticles
surface is known as surface functionalization.
 Some commonly used tools for surface modification are polymers,
carbohydrates, endogenous substances/ligands, peptide, protein,
nucleic acid and polysaccharides.
Multifunctional nanosystems
Multifunctional nanosystems could be developed in following ways:
1. Multifunctionality imparted to core:
 Simultaneous delivery of two or more therapeutic active moieties,

 Containing contrast enhancer; and

 Containing permeation enhancer
2. Multifunctioality imparted to surface:
 Steric stabilization by PEG(poly ethylene glycol) in order to modify
circulation time, and
 Use of targeting moiety

3. Multfunctionality imparted to material:

 By use of thermal sensitive, pH and stimuli sensitive biomaterials.
 Applications of
Pharmaceutical Nanotools
1) As nanomaterials for tissue engineering:
 Drug Carrier System
2) As drug carrier system:
 Conventional drug delivery systems or dosage forms suffer from many
limitations such as lack of target specificity, high rate of drug
metabolism, cytotoxicity, high dose requirement, poor patient
compliance etc.
 Nanotechnology enabled drug delivery system with optimized
physical, chemical and biological properties can serve as effective
delivery tools for currently available bioactives.
 Some nanobased drug delivery tools are polymeric nanoparticles,
liposome, dendrimer, polymeric micelles, polymer-drug
conjugates,
 Cancer treatment
(i) Cancer therapy
 Drug Delivery
(ii) Site specific drug delivery:
 Several approaches are now being tested for better site-specific
delivery using liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, iron
oxide, proteins using manipulation in passive and active uptake of
drug.
 The tumor targeting of drugs with passive delivery using enhanced
permeation and retention (EPR) effect is thought to be one intelligent
approach using these carrier system taking the advantages of leaky
vasculature of tumor.
 Gene Therapy
(iii) Gene therapy:
 In gene therapy, a normal gene is inserted in place of an abnormal
disease-causing gene using a carrier molecule
 Nanotechnology enabled delivery systems have currently emerged as
potential vector and are shown to be effective and promising tool in
systemic gene treatment
 Molecular Diagnostics
3) Molecular Diagnostic
 Some nanoparticles, which have inherent diagnostic properties, are
quantum dots, iron oxide nanocrystal and metallic nanoparticles.

 They have been successfully utilized in various magnetic resonance

imaging, optical imaging, ultrasonic imaging and nuclear imaging.

 Some other applications of nanoparticles in diagnostics are as specific

labeling of cells and tissues, useful for long-term imaging, useful for
multi-color multiplexing, suitable for dynamic imaging of sub-
cellular structures and may be used for fluorescence resonance
energy transfer (FRET)-based analysis and magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI).
Imaging agent & Drug carrier

Approved Nanoparticles as imaging agent and drug carrier

4) Biosensor and biolabels:
 A number of analytical tools have been developed with application of
this smart and potential technology.
 These tools are employed for determination of various pathological
proteins and physiological-biochemical indicator associated with
disease or disrupted metabolic conditions of body.
 Various nanoenabled technologies, techniques and their analytical
applications are listed below
Biosensors and Biolabels

Application of various nanosystems as biosensor and biolabels

 Drug discovery
5) Drug discovery:
 Pharmaceutical nanotechnology is playing crucial role in drug
discovery that rely on better understanding of mechanism of the
drug action and identification of biomarker associated with
specific disease.
 Nanotechnology help identification and validation of target by
identifying the protein present on the cell surface or target surface.
 Nanotechnology will enhance the drug discovery process, through
miniaturization, automation, speed and reliability of assays. For
example single walled nanotubes are successfully used to identity
surface protein of pathogen.
 Miscellaneous
6 ) Miscellaneous Applications:
 Various other applications of nanosystems in biomedical and
pharmaceutical fields are
 (i) biodetection of pathogens in humans,
 (ii) separation and purification of molecules and cells,
 (iii) detoxifying agents etc.

 One of future proposed nanomachine known as respirocyts is the nano-

on-board minicomputer which can be used to simultaneous detection
of disease causing marker/antigen/marker, to view the diseased site
and to deliver the therapeutic agent to that site.
 Future Prospects of
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology
 Pharmaceutical nanotechnology is an emerging field that could
potentially make a major impact on human health.

 Nanomaterials promise to revolutionize medicine and are

increasingly used in drug delivery or tissue engineering
applications.

 Newly developed hybrid systems seem promising for future

applications in human.
 Functional and multifunctional approaches have tremendous
potential in temporal and spatial controlled delivery of bioactives.

 A modular approach to construct delivery systems that combine

targeting, imaging and therapeutic functionalities into
nanoplateforms is emerging as intelligent concept.

 These multifunctional nanoplateforms would localize to target cells,

enable diagnostics and subsequently deliver therapeutics with
great precision.
 But such approaches to nanodevice construction are inherently
complex.

 One very interesting and novel future strategy is to devise a

nanomachine, which can detect and attack pathogen
simultaneously, detect the change in molecular event during diseased
state, and also monitor the efficacy of treatment.

 However such intelligent machine (also knows as nanorobots which

can serves as mini onboard computer in human body) is very far
reaching concept.
 In short, recent development, market realization of various
pharmaceutical nanotools and global interest shown by scientists,
governments and industries ensure that there is tremendous potential
and scope of nanobased drug delivery system in near future.

 There is no doubt to presume that in next ten years market will be

flooded with nano-enabled delivery devices and materials.