title: The shape of things to come: importance of design in nanotechnology for drug delivery.
abstract: The design of nanoparticle (NP) size, shape and surface chemistry has a significant impact on their performance. While the influences of the particle size and surface chemistry on drug delivery have been studied extensively, little is known about the effect of particle shapes on nanomedicine. In this perspective article, we discuss recent progress on the design and fabrication of NPs of various shapes and their unique delivery properties. The shapes of these drug carriers play an important role in therapeutic delivery processes, such as particle adhesion, distribution and cell internalization. We envision that stimuli-responsive NPs, which actively change their shapes and other properties, might pave way to the next generation of nanomedicine.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Lehigh, University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. yal310@lehigh.edu
authors: Yaling
authors: Y
authors: Liu
authors: Jifu
authors: J
authors: Tan
authors: Antony
authors: A
authors: Thomas
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Ou-Yang
authors: Vladimir R
authors: VR
authors: Muzykantov
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers