Polymeric Nanoparticles

The central goal of drug delivery is the optimization of the pharmacokinetics/pharmocodynamics (PK/PD) for a specific medicinal application. One class of nanoparticles that provides the greatest flexibility in tuning, and hence the largest class of nanoparticle studied, is polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs). This chapter discusses the different types of PNPs and routes of targeting. It explains biodistribution and how to measure the different pertinent effects PNPs exhibit. Given the extensive array of chemistries and mechanical properties available in polymers, there is conceptually no limit to the forms and designs of PNPs that can be made. The chapter summarizes the approaches that have been developed, and discusses their relative advantages and disadvantages. It reviews formulation techniques for PNPs. These techniques can be combined and interchanged to form a variety of PNP structures. The chapter exemplifies the different possibilities of using different configurations of PNPs with different compositions and targeting techniques.