Factors affecting the morphology of some organic and inorganic nanostructures for drug delivery: characterization, modifications, and toxicological perspectives

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In this review, we aim to highlight the impact of various processes and formulation variables influencing the characteristics of certain surfactant-based nanoconstructs for drug delivery.

Areas covered: The review includes the discussion on processing parameters for the preparation of nanoconstructs, especially those made up of surfactants. Articles published in last 15 years (437) were reviewed, 381 articles were selected for data review and most appropriate articles (215) were included in article. Effect of variables such as surfactant concentration and type, membrane additives, temperature, and pH-dependent transitions on morphology has been highlighted along with effect of shape on nanoparticle uptake by cells. Various characterization techniques explored for these nanostructures with respect to size, morphology, lamellarity, distribution, etc., and a separate section on polymeric vesicles and the influence of block copolymers, type of block copolymer, control of block length, interaction of multiple block copolymers on the structure of polymersomes and chimeric nanostructures have been discussed. Finally, applications, modification, degradation, and toxicological aspects of these drug delivery systems have been highlighted.

Expert opinion: Parameters influencing the morphology of micelles and vesicles can directly or indirectly affect the efficacy of small molecule cellular internalization as well as uptake in the case of biologicals.

KEYWORDS:

• Micelles
• vesicles
• polymersomes
• surfactants
• cellular uptake
• toxicology

Article highlights

• Role of process and formulation variables on morphology of surfactant-based nanoconstructs.

• Effect of shape of nanoconstructs on cellular uptake.

• Characterization techniques for assessing morphology of nanoconstructs.

• Degradation of surfactant-based nanoconstructs.

• Toxicology of surfactant-based nanoconstructs

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India, New Delhi for Junior Research Fellowship to Ms. Ruchira Raychaudhuri and to Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal for Postdoctoral Research Fellowship to Dr. Abhijeet Pandey. The authors are grateful to CSIR, Government of India, New Delhi and Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal for providing financial and infrastructural support for the research activities.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.