Back to Journals » International Journal of Nanomedicine » Volume 8 » Issue 1

Concepts and practices used to develop functional PLGA-based nanoparticulate systems

Authors Sah H, Thoma L, Desu H, Sah E, Wood G

Received 29 November 2012

Accepted for publication 11 January 2013

Published 21 February 2013 Volume 2013:8(1) Pages 747—765

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S40579

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Hongkee Sah,1,2 Laura A Thoma,2 Hari R Desu,2 Edel Sah,3 George C Wood2

1College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Sedaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea; 2College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA; 3College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA

Abstract: The functionality of bare polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) nanoparticles is limited to drug depot or drug solubilization in their hard cores. They have inherent weaknesses as a drug-delivery system. For instance, when administered intravenously, the nanoparticles undergo rapid clearance from systemic circulation before reaching the site of action. Furthermore, plain PLGA nanoparticles cannot distinguish between different cell types. Recent research shows that surface functionalization of nanoparticles and development of new nanoparticulate dosage forms help overcome these delivery challenges and improve in-vivo performance. Immense research efforts have propelled the development of diverse functional PLGA-based nanoparticulate delivery systems. Representative examples include PEGylated micelles/nanoparticles (PEG, polyethylene glycol), polyplexes, polymersomes, core-shell–type lipid-PLGA hybrids, cell-PLGA hybrids, receptor-specific ligand-PLGA conjugates, and theranostics. Each PLGA-based nanoparticulate dosage form has specific features that distinguish it from other nanoparticulate systems. This review focuses on fundamental concepts and practices that are used in the development of various functional nanoparticulate dosage forms. We describe how the attributes of these functional nanoparticulate forms might contribute to achievement of desired therapeutic effects that are not attainable using conventional therapies. Functional PLGA-based nanoparticulate systems are expected to deliver chemotherapeutic, diagnostic, and imaging agents in a highly selective and effective manner.

Keywords: nanoparticulate dosage forms, nanoparticles, polylactide-co-glycolide, functionality

Creative Commons License © 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.