Pharmaceutical Commentary Nanotechnology in medicine: innovation to market Nanotechnology based medicine is an advanced biomedical field. After producing a plethora Bajwa SZ*, Munawar A & of laboratory based nanomedicine research, nanotechnology is facing a transition into the Khan WS tangible advancement of human therapeutics. If nanoproducts are to be translated into National Institute for Biotechnology meaningful benefits for patients, innovation in the laboratory must be supported by the and Genetic Engineering, Faisalabad, standard research protocols and regulatory pathways. Both for therapeutics and for medical Pakistan *Author for correspondence: devices now researchers and pharma-entrepreneurs have gathered at one platform to transfer [email protected] innovation to market for the benefit of mankind. Keywords: nanotechnology ▪ nanomedicine ▪ therapeutics ▪ nanoimgaging Nanomedicine size materials can be included due to their active components in the size range from one Nanomaterials possess exceptional unique nanometre to hundreds of nanometres [3]. nanoscale size dependent physical, optical, catalytic, electrical, and chemical properties that Nanomaterials based drug delivery systems can can be controlled (scalable). These properties are interact with biomolecules positioned on both entirely different than their bulk counterpart. cell surface and within the cell. Thus nano One of the exciting feature of nanotechnology based drug delivery systems not only transfer is its utility in the field of nanomedicine, encapsulated or grafted chemotherapeutics, therapeutics, and medical devices [1]. When but can also deliver them within the cellular these small size materials are introduced into system once they have penetrated. Such biological systems, their extremely small size and systems can also be modified and decorated with different functionalizing agents such their unique nanoscale properties make it possible as antibodies to develop target specific drug to use them as delivery vectors and probes for delivery system [4]. At present only two families biological diagnostics, imaging and therapeutics of therapeutic nanomedicine-albumin and [2]. Infact, when size decreases, the surface area liposomes nanoparticles are clinically established to volume ratio of materials becomes very large, worldwide. so that a vast suitable surface is available for chemical interactions with biomolecules. This Nano Drug Delivery Systems (DDS) generally critically implied that nanotechnology is facing possess three vector generation; First generation a transition into the tangible advancement of vectors comprising nano spheres and nano human therapeutics. Recently, we have seen capsules. Second generation vectors of the beginning of multiple clinical trials of nanoparticles that are coated with hydrophilic nanomaterials; both for therapeutics and for polymers such as Polyethylene Glycol (PEG). medical devices. Third generation vectors which combines a biodegradable core and a Polymer Envelope When we talk about nanomedicine, its aim (PEG) with a functionalization agent. Such can be broadly defined as the comprehensive systems offer inherent merits of protecting drug production of materials to control, either from being degraded in the body before it is repair, defence or therapy, and improvement actually delivered to its target, enhance drug of different human biological systems. For this absorption, better control over drug distribution purpose different nano-engineered structures to tissue and avoiding side effects by preventing are applied at molecular level. Here, nanoscale interaction with normal cells. Many FDA 11 Pharm. Bioprocess. (2017) 5(2), 011–015 ISSN 2048-9145 Commentary Bajwa, Munawar, Khan approved nanomedicines are available for clinical or active targeting. Passive targeting depends use (TABLE 1). upon enhanced permeability and retention. Due to small size and different surface properties of Nanotechnology offers a different means to nanomaterials they can drip through blood vessel selectively deliver therapies at diseased cells walls into tissues [5]. On the other hand on or tissues, for instance, with application in active target approach, functional molecules on inflammation or cancer. The behaviour of nanomaterials can bind specific cellular receptors nanomaterials is based on two approaches, passive to functionalize them for targeted delivery. Active Table 1. List of drugs approved by FDA. Source: Adapted from US-FDA and EMA. Year Active pharmaceutical Trade name Indication Nanotechnology approved ingredient Photodynamlic therapy Visudyne 2000 Verteporfin for age-related muscular Liposome degeneration Doxil/Caelyx 1995 Doxorubicin Antineoplastic PEGylated liposome AmBisome 1990 Amphotericin B Fungal infections Liposome Abelcet 1995 Amphotericin B Fungal infections Liposome Definity 2001 Octofluoro-propane - Liposome Myocet 2001 Doxorubicin - Liposome Lymphomatous DepoCyte 1999 Cytarabine Liposome meningitis DepoDur 2004 Morphine - Liposome Daunoxome 1996 Daunirubicin Antineoplastic Liposome Octocog alfa 2009 Factor VIII - Liposome Albumin bound Abraxane 2005 paclitaxel Metastatic breast cancer nanoparticles Rapamune 2000 Rapamycin Immunosuppresant Nanocrystal Elan Emend 2003 Aprepitant Anti-emetic Nanocrystal Elan Tricor 2004 Fenofibrate Hypercholesterolemia Nanocrystal Elan Megace ES 2005 Megestrol Anti-anoretic Nanocrystal Elan IDP-P Skyepharma Triglide 2005 Fenofibrate Hypercholesterolemia nanocrystal Mepact - Mifamurtide - Liposome Amphotec 1996 - Fungal infections Micelle Vasomotor symptoms Estrasorb 2003 - associated with Micelle menopause Taxotere 1996 - Antineoplastic Micelle Somatuline depot 2007 - Acromegaly Nanotube Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in SPIO Feraheme injection 2009 - patient with Chronic Polymer- Kidney Disease Improved stability of protein through Polymer-protein conjugate Krystexxa®/ 2010 PEGylation; introduction Chronic gout (PEGylated porcine-like Pegloticase (Horizon) of unique mammalian uricase) protein Increased delivery to tumour site; lower Acute Lymphoblastic Marqibo® (Onco TCS) 2012 Liposomal Vincristine systemic toxicity arising Leukemia from side-effects Improved solubility; Abraxane®/ABI-007 Breast cancer NSCLC Albumin-bound paclitaxel 2013 improved delivery to (Celgene) Pancreatic cancer nanoparticles tumor Allows slow release of Invega® Sustenna® Schizophrenia 2014 injectable low solubility Paliperidone Palmitate (Janssen Pharms) Schizoaffective Disorder drug Improved stability protein conjugate Adynovate (Baxalta) 2015 of protein through Hemophilia (PEGylated factor VIII) PEGylation Pharm. Bioprocess. (2017) 5(2) 12 Nanotechnology in medicine: innovation Commentary and passive targeting can be combined to boast devices require small sample and will provide chemotherapeutic, achieving more significant more accurate and complete biological data disease control at lower drug doses [6]. Nano- from a single test/measurement/reading. based materials are also being investigated as Nanotechnology refines the diagnostic regenerative medicines. Regenerative medicine techniques/devices, resulted in high throughput is the procedure of generating functional and screening and resulted to the development living tissues, to replace or repair damaged organ of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostics [13]. or tissue due to congenital defects, age, damage Nanoimaging includes numerous approaches for or disease. The main aim behind for nano- the study of in vivo molecular proceedings and based regenerative medicine is the availability molecules management. Main purpose of in vivo of cost-efficient, user friendly disease treating diagnostics research is to create highly sensitive, techniques that will permit for in-situ tissue specificity and reliable detecting agents that regeneration [7]. Nanomaterial assisted gene can be used to deliver and monitor therapeutic delivery for employing stem cells has an energetic agents. This is the ‘Find, Fight and Follow’ (FFF) role in recognizing the potential of regenerative concept of early diagnosis and therapy [14]. Now medicine. The major goal of continuing and molecular imaging is a basic tool for monitoring future efforts in this field will be to effectively and diagnosis of disease and in developing in exploit the enormous newly discovered self- vivo nano medical application [15]. For wide repair capability that has been observed in adult range of diagnosis, targeted molecular imaging stem cells [3,8]. Here, two main objectives are is important for different purposes such as perused; firstly recognising signalling systems (assessing drug distributions, controlled drug in order to power the self-healing potential of release and early diagnosis of unexpected and endogenous stem cells. Secondly, emerging potentially dangerous drug accumulations) [16]. efficient targeting systems for adult stem cell Nano medical Implants therapies. Whereas, another possible application of regenerative medicine strategies is to evade Nanotechnology also has different implications pre-seed a nanostructured biomaterial scaffold/ for in vivo diagnostic tools such as the new matrix of a patient’s own cells. endoscopic instruments and swallow able imaging ‘pill’. Monitoring and observing of circulating Nanotechnology is an excellent mean to develop molecules is of important for some chronic different structures and materials that mimic diseases such as AIDS or diabetes. Different the biological but also promises to provide nano sensors (for example catheters), will efficient