Current Status of Smart Nanoparticles in Drug Delivery

Smart nanoparticles (NPs) find extensive application in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. These smart nanostructured materials offer a distinct advantage by delivering drugs to their site of action at a low dose, reducing dosing frequency in a controlled pattern. They effectively address key challenges associated with conventional pharmaceutical therapies, including rapid clearance, inadequate bioavailability, and nonuniform distribution. Smart nanoparticles can release drugs at the right time and in the right places, responding to specific physiological cues. They encompass all three delivery methods: stimuli-responsive targeting, passive targeting, and active targeting. In spite of notable progress in contemporary synthetic methods, a considerable portion of nanocarriers displays behaviors associated with adverse side effects, constraining their practicality in biotechnology and applications within nanomedicine. These nanoparticles showcase unique applications in targeted or site-specific drug delivery, particularly in tumors and cancer. Smart nanoparticles (NPs) had also demonstrated to provide intelligent controlled drug delivery systems and can also effectively react to fluctuations in pH levels. This chapter aims to provide profound insights into smart nanoparticles, covering aspects such as classification, types, advantages and disadvantages, preparation, applications, and current status.