title: Non-spherical micro- and nanoparticles: fabrication, characterization and drug delivery applications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Micro- and nanoparticles in drug and vaccine delivery have opened up new possibilities in pharmaceutics. In the past, researchers focused mainly on particle size, surface chemistry and the use of various materials to control particle characteristics and functions. Lately, shape has been acknowledged as an important design parameter having an impact on the interaction with biological systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, we report on the latest developments in fabrication methods to tailor particle geometry, summarize analytical techniques for non-spherical particles and highlight the most important findings regarding their interaction with biological systems and their potential applications in drug delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The impact of shape on particle internalization into different cell types and particle biodistribution has been extensively studied in the past. Current research focuses on shape-dependent uptake mechanisms and applications for tumour therapy and vaccination. Different fabrication methods can be used to produce a variety of different particle types and shapes. Key challenges will be the transfer of new non-spherical particle fabrication methods from lab-scale to industrial large-scale production. Not all techniques may be scalable for the production of high quantities of particles. It will also be challenging to transfer the promising in vitro findings to suitable in vivo models.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacist, PhD Student,Ludwig-Maximillians-University Munich, Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics , Butenandtstr. 5, D-81377 Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mathaes
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besheer
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Engert
mesh_terms: D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: non-spherical particles; particle fabrication techniques; particle shape; shape analytics