Adv Polym Sci (2013) 254: 241–268
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_199
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Proteins and Carbohydrates as Polymeric
Nanodrug Delivery Systems: Formulation,
Properties, and Toxicological Evaluation
Dhanya Narayanan, J. Gopikrishna, Shantikumar V. Nair,
and Deepthy Menon
Abstract Enhancing the clinical benefits of pharmaceuticals at reduced doses with
negligible side effects has been an ever-challenging goal in drug delivery. This
pursuit towards an optimal formulation is hugely supported through the development of nanoparticulate delivery systems, which encapsulate the drug in its active
form. Nanocarriers have emerged as successful candidates in pharmaceutics owing
to their multifaceted characteristics such as the capability to entrap pharmaceutical
ingredients at therapeutic dose, better biodistribution, size-dependent clearance,
targetability, and controlled/sustained release of single or multiple payloads at the
site of interest. Additionally, the requirement that the chosen carrier be biocompatible and biodegradable necessitates the use of biopolymers in entrapping payloads.
Among the biopolymers, a wide variety of natural and synthetic carbohydrates and
proteins (including starch, chitosan, chitin, dextran, alginate, albumin, casein,
fibrin/fibrinogen, gelatin, collagen, whey protein, etc.) have evolved as useful
materials for delivering hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs through oral, intravenous, mucosal, ocular, or nasal routes. Targeted-controlled release of
pharmaceuticals to diseased sites, environmentally stimulated drug release at
desired locations, and many more drug release strategies have been made available
by efficient engineering and nanoformulation of carbohydrate and protein
biopolymers. This chapter embodies an in-depth discussion of various carbohydrate- and protein-based nanomedicines with respect to the formulation and
properties of the nanoconstructs. The manipulation and utilization of these
properties for development of better drug delivery devices is described and the
toxicological interactions of these nanocarriers with host physiological systems
discussed.
D. Narayanan, J. Gopikrishna, S.V. Nair, and D. Menon (*)
Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
and Research Centre, Kochi 682041, India
e-mail: deepthymenon@aims.amrita.edu; deepsmenon@gmail.com
DOI: 10.1007/12_2012_199
# Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Published online: 15 March 2013
Proteins and Carbohydrates as Polymeric
Nanodrug Delivery Systems: Formulation,
Properties, and Toxicological Evaluation
Dhanya Narayanan, J. Gopikrishna, Shantikumar V. Nair,
and Deepthy Menon
Abstract Enhancing the clinical benefits of pharmaceuticals at reduced doses with
negligible side effects has been an ever-challenging goal in drug delivery. This
pursuit towards an optimal formulation is hugely supported through the development of nanoparticulate delivery systems, which encapsulate the drug in its active
form. Nanocarriers have emerged as successful candidates in pharmaceutics owing
to their multifaceted characteristics such as the capability to entrap pharmaceutical
ingredients at therapeutic dose, better biodistribution, size-dependent clearance,
targetability, and controlled/sustained release of single or multiple payloads at the
site of interest. Additionally, the requirement that the chosen carrier be biocompatible and biodegradable necessitates the use of biopolymers in entrapping payloads.
Among the biopolymers, a wide variety of natural and synthetic carbohydrates and
proteins (including starch, chitosan, chitin, dextran, alginate, albumin, casein,
fibrin/fibrinogen, gelatin, collagen, whey protein, etc.) have evolved as useful
materials for delivering hydrophobic or hydrophilic drugs through oral, intravenous, mucosal, ocular, or nasal routes. Targeted-controlled release of
pharmaceuticals to diseased sites, environmentally stimulated drug release at
desired locations, and many more drug release strategies have been made available
by efficient engineering and nanoformulation of carbohydrate and protein
biopolymers. This chapter embodies an in-depth discussion of various carbohydrate- and protein-based nanomedicines with respect to the formulation and
properties of the nanoconstructs. The manipulation and utilization of these
properties for development of better drug delivery devices is described and the
toxicological interactions of these nanocarriers with host physiological systems
discussed.
D. Narayanan, J. Gopikrishna, S.V. Nair, and D. Menon (*)
Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences
and Research Centre, Kochi 682041, India
e-mail: deepthymenon@aims.amrita.edu; deepsmenon@gmail.com