title: Fractal analysis as a complementary approach to predict the stability of drug delivery nano systems in aqueous and biological media: a regulatory proposal or a dream?
abstract: The morphology of drug nanocarriers correlates with their functionality, which is mainly shuttled on their surface where most of the interactions and interfacial phenomena occur. The quantification of their morphological fingerprint requires an analytical tool that should be established based on experimental data and can be correlated with their stability. The morphological quantification picture of the advanced Drug Delivery nano Systems (aDDnSs) could be achieved via fractal analysis and by introducing a novel proposed parameter, defined as ωD. This parameter is based on mathematical limits determined experimentally and on already existing theories on the colloidal fractal aggregation process which can correlate the morphological characteristics of aDDnSs with their physicochemical stability in aqueous and biological media. This review article proposes the fractal analysis and the ωD as an analytical tool and prediction parameter, respectively, which are able to promote an attractive and alternative path for studying drug delivery nanocarriers. Moreover, these approaches could facilitate the scale up process of pharmaceutical industry, and could shed more light in the quantification of drug delivery nanosystems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece. Electronic address: demetzos@pharm.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demetzos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece.
authors.forename: Natassa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pippa
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004355:Drug Stability; D017709:Fractals; D049329:Nanostructures
keywords: Fractal analysis; Morphology; Nanocarriers; Parameter ω(D); Shape