Table 5.
Key nanotechnology-based approaches for the enhancement of drug solubility and oral bioavailability.
| Company | Nanotechnology-based formulation approach | Description and reference |
|---|---|---|
| American Biosciences (Blauvelt, USA) | Nanoparticle albumin-bound technology. e.g. paclitaxel-albumin nanoparticles | Paclitaxel albumin nanoparticles76 |
| Baxter Pharmaceuticals (Deerfield, USA) | Nanoedge technology: particle size reduction was achieved by homogenization, micro-precipitation, lipid emulsion and other dispersed systems. | Nano-lipid emulsion77 |
| BioSante Pharmaceuticals (Lincolnshire, USA) | Calcium phosphate based nanoparticles were produced for improved oral bioavailability of hormones/proteins and vaccine adjuvants | Calcium phosphate nanoparticles78 |
| ElanPharma International (Dublin, Ireland) | Nanoparticles (<1 µm) were produced by Wet milling technique using surfactants and stabilizers. The technology was applied successfully in developing apprepitant and reformulation of Sirolimus. | Nanocrystal drug particle79 |
| Eurand Pharmaceuticals (Vandalia, USA) | Nanocrystal or amorphous drug is produced by breakdown of crystal lattice and stabilized by using biocompatible carriers (swellablemicroparticles or cyclodextrins) | Cyclodextrin nanoparticle80 |
| iMEDDInc (Burlingame, USA) | Implantable drug delivery system using silicon membrane with nano-pores (10–100 nm) | Stretchable silicon nanomembrane81 |
| pSivida Ltd. (Watertown, USA) | The solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs was achieved by incorporating drug particles within the nano-width pores of biocompatible silicon membranes or fibers. | Silicon nanoparticles |
| PharmaSol GmbH (Berlin, Germany) | High pressure homogenization was used to produce nanostructured lipid particles dispersions with solid contents that provide high-loading capacity for hydrophilic drugs | Drug encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles69 |
| SkyePharmaPlc, (Piccadily, London, UK) | Nanoparticulate systems of water insoluble drugs were produced by applying high shear or impaction and stabilization was achieved by using phospholipids. | A polymer stabilizing nano- reactor with the encapsulated drug core69 |