Drug Delivery Nanosystems: From Bioinspiration and Biomimetics to Clinical Applications

Nanotechnology seeks to exploit distinct technological advances controlling the structure of nanoscale biomaterials at a nanodimensional scale approaching individual molecules and their aggregates or supramolecular structures. The term "nanomedicine" is used to describe those technologies under the umbrella of nanotechnology that have therapeutic applications in human health. This book presents recent trends and research achievements in the field of pharmaceutical nanotechnology and advanced drug delivery nanosystems, especially for theranostic purposes. The applications of drug delivery nanosystems considered carriers of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) (e.g., proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids) are analyzed on the basis of technology, preparation protocols, and biomedical applications. The book also extensively reports on the principles, design protocols, and applications of nanosystems in drug delivery, imaging, and targeting of active molecules of pharmaceutical interest.

Costas Demetzos is director of the Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, and since 2008 president of the Hellenic Pharmaceutical Society, Greece. He is also president of a few international and European scientific conferences and from 2014 to 2016 was an elected member of the executive committee (ExCo) of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences (EUFEPS). He has published more than 220 research papers and 2 monographs, coauthored 1 book, and edited 3 books and is on the editorial board of a few scientific journals. He holds many national and international patents. His research interests include pharmaceutical nanotechnology, physical pharmacy, pharmaceutical compounding, and regulatory aspects.

Stergios Pispas is director of research at the Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece. He obtained his PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Athens in 1994. He is also chairman of the Scientific Council of TPCI-NHRF since 2016 and an advisory board member of the European Polymer Journal since 2017. He won the American Institute of Chemists Foundation Award for Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow in 1995 and the A. K. Doolittle Award of the American Chemical Society in 2003. He has coauthored more than 270 research articles in refereed journals and 2 books, several invited review articles, and chapters in books and encyclopedias. His research work has received more than 7000 citations with an h-index of 38. His current research focuses on the synthesis of functional block copolymers and polyelectrolytes by controlled polymerization methodologies, the study of their self-assembled nanostructures and their utilization as nanocarriers, and the development of complex, hybrid nanostructures based on designed synthetic polymers and inorganic nanomaterials and biomacromolecules for nanomedicine applications.

Natassa Pippa is postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Athens. She has participated in several research programs with pharmaceutical industries in order to develop medicines, cosmetics, and food supplements. She was awarded the prestigious International Association of Advanced Materials Scientist Medal for the year 2016 by the International Association of Advanced Materials for her contribution to the field of advanced materials science and technology. She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers and 6 chapters in books. Her research focuses on the design and development of nanoparticles (i.e., liposomes, micelles) as nanopharmaceuticals.