Author/Authors :
Abbaspour، Mohammadreza نويسنده Nanotechnology Research Center and School of Pharmacy, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran Abbaspour, Mohammadreza
Abstract :
Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS)
officiated as host to the second nanodrugs congress on
March 2012, which was held by nanotechnology research
center of AJUMS in cooperation with Shahid Chamran University
of Ahvaz, Iran. This scientific event was scheduled
to be held in a bid to create an appropriate environment
for idea exchange among the specialists and researchers
active in the field of drug delivery. The objectives of the
organization of this congress was introducing the latest
achievements in the field of nanodrugs, considering targeted
drug delivery aim for the treatment of incurable
diseases, improving the life quality and social health, and
converting science and technology into wealth.
One of the major scopes of the congress was the application
of nanotechnology in the field of natural pharmaceutical
products. Recently there have been considerable
researches on developing biocompatible and
biodegradable nanocarriers/nanodevices as novel drug
delivery systems. Natural polymers or biopolymers are
generally biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and
non-immunogenic. They occur widely in nature and are
classified into 2 groups; polysaccharides and proteins (1).
Chitosan, starch, dextran, and alginate are examples of
commonly used polysaccharides while collagen, gelatin,
and albumin are examples of commonly used proteins.
These biopolymers are widely applied in formulation of
nanospheres, nanocapsules, and recently nanofibers in
order to enhance drug delivery to specific pharmacological
sites or tissue engineering.
Lipids also are a broad group of naturally occurring
molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, phospholipids,
fat-soluble vitamins, mono-, di-, and tri-glycerides
which are advantageous to formulation of a wide range
of lipid-based nanocarriers; such as solid lipid nanoparticles
(SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), and lipid
drug conjugates (LDC) to minimize the drawbacks associated
with polymeric nanoparticles specially low drug
loading for hydrophobic drugs (2).
Moreover some research are being focused on development
of novel drug delivery systems for herbal extracts
or plant actives, such as polymeric nanoparticles, nanocapsules,
liposomes, phytosomes, nanoemulsions, microsphere,
transferosomes, and ethosomes, to protect
active herbal ingredients from physical and chemical
degradation, enhance safety and pharmacological activity,
and overcome solubility and bioavailability
