Several studies have described the benefits of nanoscience and nanotechnology (N&N) in different sectors such as agriculture, energy, environmental preservation, and public health. The rapid evolution of N&N can be shown through a panoramic analysis of scientific papers and patents. In the area of public health, it is estimated that the global market for nanotechnology products will expand to 160 billion U.S. dollars in 2015. The Brazilian government has also strengthened its innovative potential in N&N through economic subsidies, as observed for other countries. This review is focused on the current landscape of N&N in a therapeutic context, highlighting the development of nanotech-products produced with biocompatible and biodegradable materials that are already commercially available or under investigation. Most studies under investigation are focused on the development of nanotechnology-based formulations intended for treatment of cancer, inflammatory, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Although there are several advantages of N&N in healthcare, many challenges have to be conquered to increase the availability of nanotechnology products in toxicological, preclinical and clinical studies, scale-up, regulatory, and private investments.

Micropartículas com revestimento nanoestruturado, contendo diclofenaco, foram preparadas e caracterizadas apresentando um rendimento de 80% e taxa de encapsulação de 83%. A análise morfológica (MEV) permitiu a visualização de nanoestruturas adsorvidas à superfície das micropartículas, que apresentaram uma diminuição da área superficial e do volume de poros em relação ao núcleo. A liberação in vitro do fármaco (pH 5,0 e 7,4) mostrou eficiência de dissolução de 34% e 78% (núcleo), 74% e 83% (mistura física), e 58% e 85% (micropartículas nanorrevestidas), respectivamente. A modelagem matemática mostrou os modelos biexponencial (pH 5,0) e monoexponencial (pH 7,4) como aqueles que melhor descreveram os perfis de liberação. Na tolerância digestiva, os índices lesionais totais foram de 156,1 ± 48,5 para a solução do diclofenaco sódico, de 132,4 ± 45,7 para o núcleo, de 109,1 ± 35,8 para a mistura física e de 29,9 ± 12,1 para as micropartículas, demonstrando o efeito protetor destas micropartículas frente à toxicidade do diclofenaco. Esta estratégia de revestimento apresenta um emprego potencial no desenvolvimento de sistemas de administração oral de fármacos.

This work reports the preparation and characterization of polymeric nanostructure-coated diclofenac-loaded microparticles. After spray-drying, powders presented 80% of yield and encapsulation efficiency of 83%. SEM analyses showed nanostructures adsorbed onto the surface of microparticles presenting surface area (BET) and pore volumes (BJH) (83 m² g-1, 0.10 cm³ g-1) smaller than the uncoated-core (163 m² g-1, 0.25 cm³ g-1). In vitro drug release experiments at pH 5.0 and 7.4 showed dissolution efficiencies of 34% and 78% (uncoated-core), 74% and 83% (physical mixture of raw materials), and 58% and 85% (nanostructure-coated microparticles), respectively. Mathematical modeling of the dissolution profiles fitted a biexponential model at pH 5.0 and a monoexponential model at pH 7.4. Regarding the digestive tolerance experiments, the total lesional indexes were 156.1 ± 48.5 for sodium diclofenac aqueous solution, 132.4 ± 45.7 for uncoated-core, 109.1 ± 35.8 for physical mixture and 29.9 ± 12.1 for microparticles showing a protective effect of these microparticles against the mucosal diclofenac damage. This strategy of coating presents a potential use for oral administration of drugs.