Tapping Full Potential Of Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles are another powerful tool in the biotech industry’s arsenal for targeted drug delivery. Their extremely small size, measured in nanometres, makes them highly effective carriers for therapeutic agents. These miniature carriers can be customised to encase drugs, benefiting from their biocompatibility, controlled release capabilities, stability, and low toxicity. The precision offered by nanoparticles opens up a world of possibilities for treating various diseases, including infectious diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders. These tiny particles offer tremendous potential for targeted drug delivery, enhanced therapeutic efficacy and precise disease targeting. Moreover, the global market for nanoparticle drug delivery is projected to grow significantly, reaching $123.6 billion by 2025, according to BCC Research. Let’s deep dive into the fascinating field of nanomedicines, advancements and challenges in nanoparticle drug delivery.

- Ayesha Siddiqui

At the peak of COVID-19, the pharma industry’s push for an mRNA drug for emergency use became known as the most notable intervention in recent history. The success of mRNA vaccines can be attributed to the utilisation of lipid-based nanoparticles, which played a crucial role in enabling this groundbreaking achievement and bolstering the field of nanomedicines.

Nanoparticles, ranging from 1 to 100 nanometres, are smaller than human hair, which is typically several hundred micrometres in diameter. There are three main types commonly used, polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). The majority of the research at present is focused on LNPs.

Encouraged by the success of Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine, several other companies and researchers are working to develop different modes of drug delivery using nanoparticles. One such company is Australia’s Vaxxas. The firm has developed a platform called ‘Nanopatch’ that utilises lipid nanoparticle-coated projections to deliver vaccines directly to immune cells in the skin, potentially improving vaccine efficacy and eliminating the need for refrigeration during distribution. In March 2023, the firm reported positive phase 1 results from nanopatch, paving the way for needle-free/self-administered vaccines.

Australian biotech behemoth CSL is also trying to get on board with this technology. In 2022, CSL, partnered with US-based Arcturus to develop and commercialise infectious disease vaccines using Arcturus’ self-amplifying mRNA technology and LUNAR lipid nanoparticle delivery platform.