Nanoparticles Methods for Hydrophobic Drugs — A Novel Approach: Graphical Abstract

Abstract

The current scenario shifts the advancement of technology toward nanotechnology as well as nanoparticles (NPs). Both are extensively used in pharmaceutical drug delivery also. NPs play a key role in the encapsulation of hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic drugs into the polymeric shells which leads to an increase in the solubility, absorption, encapsulation, and drug loading capacity of the drugs. The major limitations of hydrophobic drugs are solubility issues which hindered the drug’s bioavailability. These limitations can be overcome by polymeric NPs. Both subtypes of polymeric NPs, i.e., nanosphere and nanocapsules are also for the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs. Our graphical review focused on hydrophobic drug encapsulation through polymeric NP formulation only via two methods, i.e., nanoprecipitation as well as solvent evaporation methods. Both methods are extensively used for hydrophobic drugs and also hold unique properties. The nanoprecipitation method is a single-step method based upon the nucleation process, whereas the solvent evaporation method is a two-step emulsification method. The present graphical review summarized the available remedies through NPs to increase the solubility of hydrophobic drugs.

Keywords

• Nanoparticles
• hydrophobic drug
• nanoprecipitation
• solvent evaporation
• polymeric nanoparticles