Polymeric Nanoparticles: Production, Characterization, Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Aleksandra Zielińska,
Filipa Carreiró,
Ana M. Oliveira,
Andreia Neves,
Bárbara Pires,
D. Nagasamy Venkatesh,
Alessandra Durazzo,
Massimo Lucarini,
Piotr Eder,
Amélia M. Silva,
Antonello Santini,
Eliana B. Souto
Affiliations
Aleksandra Zielińska
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Filipa Carreiró
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Ana M. Oliveira
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Andreia Neves
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Bárbara Pires
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
D. Nagasamy Venkatesh
JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Ooty 643 001, Tamil Nadu, India
Alessandra Durazzo
CREA-Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
Massimo Lucarini
CREA-Research Centre for Food and Nutrition, Via Ardeatina 546, 00178 Rome, Italy
Piotr Eder
Department of Gastroenterology, Dietetics and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Przybyszewskiego 49, 60–355 Poznań, Poland
Amélia M. Silva
Department of Biology and Environment, University of Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
Antonello Santini
Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy
Eliana B. Souto
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are particles within the size range from 1 to 1000 nm and can be loaded with active compounds entrapped within or surface-adsorbed onto the polymeric core. The term “nanoparticle” stands for both nanocapsules and nanospheres, which are distinguished by the morphological structure. Polymeric NPs have shown great potential for targeted delivery of drugs for the treatment of several diseases. In this review, we discuss the most commonly used methods for the production and characterization of polymeric NPs, the association efficiency of the active compound to the polymeric core, and the in vitro release mechanisms. As the safety of nanoparticles is a high priority, we also discuss the toxicology and ecotoxicology of nanoparticles to humans and to the environment.
