Nanomedicine: Novel approaches in human and veterinary therapeutics

Nanomedicine can be defined as the application of nanotechnology to the prevention and treatment of diseases as well as for diagnosis purposes. In this context, the development of various types of drug-carrier nanodevices offers new strategies for targeted drug delivery, minimising the secondary effects and the toxicity associated to drug widespread to healthy organs or cells.This review is divided in two different parts. The first one summarizes the main types of nanomedicines developed in the past few decades, including drug nanocrystals, polymer therapeutics, lipid-nanosized and polymeric-nanosized drug delivery systems. The second part of our review is devoted, more specifically, to the presentation of polymeric nanoparticles. Here, we discuss various aspects of nanoparticle formulation, characterization, behaviour in the body and some of their potential applications. More particularly we present some approaches for the treatment of cancer, treatment of infectious diseases and the potential of these nanoparticles as adjuvants for vaccination purposes.

► A relatively large amount of nanodevices can be used for pharmaceutical, veterinary and medical purposes. ► These nanomedicines have to achieve two main requisites: targeting and controlled release properties ► Polymer nanoparticles and other nanodevices are capable to concentrate the loaded drug in their site of action or adsorption. This fact permits to increase the efficacy of the therapy and minimise the secondary effects. ► Polymer nanoparticles and other nanodevices are capable to cross cellular membranes and to reach intracellular compartments. This fact is of interest for the delivery of DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides. ► Polymer nanoparticles may be an interesting tool for the development of biomimetic nanodevices. This approach tries to imitate the microorganisms' behaviour and may be an adequate tool for the development of new adjuvants for vaccination and immunotherapy.