Nanostructured materials for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering

Nanostructured materials for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering

2007 | MICHAEL GOLDBERG, ROBERT LANGER, and XINQIAO JIA
Nanomaterials are increasingly used in drug delivery and tissue engineering due to their ability to improve human health. These materials can be designed to control drug release, enhance solubility, and increase cellular uptake. Current drug delivery systems face challenges such as limited bioavailability and potential toxicity. Promising nano-scale systems include nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanotubes, nanogels, and dendrimers, which can deliver both small-molecule drugs and biomacromolecules. Tissue engineering focuses on creating scaffolds that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) to guide cell behavior and tissue formation. Nanofibrous scaffolds, created through electrospinning, closely mimic the ECM's nano-scale structure, enhancing cell adhesion and tissue regeneration. Polymers such as PCL, PLA, and chitosan are used to fabricate these scaffolds, which offer high surface area, porosity, and mechanical strength. Nanoparticles can be functionalized with biomolecules for targeted delivery, while nanocapsules and nanotubes offer controlled release and efficient targeting. Dendrimers, with their well-defined structures, can encapsulate drugs and enhance biocompatibility. Nucleic acid delivery is also a key area, with non-viral vectors such as poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) being used for gene therapy. Novel systems, including self-assembled nanoreactors and nanoeggs, are being developed for advanced drug delivery. Tissue engineering scaffolds must mimic the ECM's hierarchical organization and mechanical properties to support cell growth and tissue regeneration. Nanotechnology is advancing the development of biomaterials that can replicate the ECM's complex structure and function, enabling more effective tissue engineering applications.Nanomaterials are increasingly used in drug delivery and tissue engineering due to their ability to improve human health. These materials can be designed to control drug release, enhance solubility, and increase cellular uptake. Current drug delivery systems face challenges such as limited bioavailability and potential toxicity. Promising nano-scale systems include nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanotubes, nanogels, and dendrimers, which can deliver both small-molecule drugs and biomacromolecules. Tissue engineering focuses on creating scaffolds that mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) to guide cell behavior and tissue formation. Nanofibrous scaffolds, created through electrospinning, closely mimic the ECM's nano-scale structure, enhancing cell adhesion and tissue regeneration. Polymers such as PCL, PLA, and chitosan are used to fabricate these scaffolds, which offer high surface area, porosity, and mechanical strength. Nanoparticles can be functionalized with biomolecules for targeted delivery, while nanocapsules and nanotubes offer controlled release and efficient targeting. Dendrimers, with their well-defined structures, can encapsulate drugs and enhance biocompatibility. Nucleic acid delivery is also a key area, with non-viral vectors such as poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) being used for gene therapy. Novel systems, including self-assembled nanoreactors and nanoeggs, are being developed for advanced drug delivery. Tissue engineering scaffolds must mimic the ECM's hierarchical organization and mechanical properties to support cell growth and tissue regeneration. Nanotechnology is advancing the development of biomaterials that can replicate the ECM's complex structure and function, enabling more effective tissue engineering applications.
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