| Nanoparticles |
Advantages |
Limitations |
| Polymeric nanoparticles |
▪High stability and controlled drug release ▪Ability to encapsulate a wide range of drugs ▪Biocompatibility and potential for targeted delivery |
▪Complex and costly synthesis ▪Possible cytotoxicity of certain polymers ▪Limited drug loading capacity for some drugs |
| Polymeric micelles |
▪Enhanced solubility of poorly soluble drugs ▪Targeted delivery through surface modification ▪Improved pharmacokinetics and biodistribution |
▪Low physical stability ▪Potential premature drug release ▪Limited drug loading capacity |
| Liposomes |
▪Biocompatibility and biodegradability ▪Ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs ▪Reduced toxicity of encapsulated drugs |
▪High production cost ▪Limited stability (prone to leakage) ▪Short circulation time without modification |
| Nanoemulsions |
▪High solubilization capacity for hydrophobic drugs ▪Ease of production and scale-up ▪Improved drug absorption and bioavailability |
▪Stability issues (creaming, flocculation, coalescence) ▪Limited drug loading capacity ▪Possible irritation at high surfactant concentrations |
| Solid lipid nanoparticles |
▪High stability and controlled release ▪Protection of labile drugs from degradation ▪Biocompatibility |
▪Limited drug loading capacity ▪Potential drug expulsion during storage ▪Complexity in large-scale production |
| Nanostructured lipid carriers |
▪Higher drug loading capacity compared to SLNs ▪Enhanced stability and controlled release ▪Reduced drug expulsion during storage |
▪Complexity in formulation design ▪Potential cytotoxicity due to the use of organic solvent ▪Higher production costs |
