Recent advancements in nanoparticle based drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The emergent field of nanoparticles has presented a wealth of opportunities for improving the treatment of human diseases. Recent advances have allowed for promising developments in drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Modified delivery systems allow improved drug delivery over traditional pH, microbe, or receptor dependent models, while antibody association allows for more advanced imaging modalities. Nanoparticles have potential clinical application in the field of gastroenterology as they offer several advantages compared to the conventional treatment systems including target drug delivery, enhanced treatment efficacy, and reduced side effects.

Areas covered: The aim of this review article is to summarize the recent advancements in developing nanoparticle technologies to treat gastrointestinal diseases. We have covered the application of nanoparticles in various gastrointestinal disorders including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. We also have discussed how the gut microbiota affects the nanoparticle based drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract.

Expert opinion: Nanoparticles based drug delivery offers a great platform for targeted drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders. However, it is influenced by the presence of microbiota, drug interaction with nanoparticles, and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. With the advancements in nanoparticle technology, it may be possible to overcome these barriers leading to efficient drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders based on nanoparticle platform.

KEYWORDS:

• Gastrointestinal diseases
• nanoparticles
• targeted drug delivery
• gut microbiota

Article highlights

• Possible strategies for drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract using nanoparticles.

• An ideal nanoparticle system that would deliver the drug exclusively and precisely to inflamed areas in the gut.

• Should have the ability to deliver for a prolonged time but only after arriving at its intended target site to limit off target effects.

• Should not cross-react with the target drugs.

• Should be non-cytotoxic and have no effect on the normal gut microbiota.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Center for Personalized Nanomedicine (CPNM) and Institute of Neuro-Immune Pharmacology (INIP), Department of Immunology, Florida International University (FIU).

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

Additional information

Funding

RD Jayant would like to acknowledge the financial support from FIU-Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Pilot funding (Grant #800008542), the Campbell Foundation (Grant # 800008886).