Grand challenges in nanomedicine

Abstract

Nanotherapeutics and nanopharmaceuticals could achieve and facilitate earlier and more precise individual diagnosis, improve targeted therapies, reduce side effects, and enhance therapeutic monitoring. These advantages will improve quality of life, support a healthier and more independent aging population, and be instrumental in maximizing the cost-effectiveness of health care. However, the field of nanomedicine is at its early stage, most of the research still stays in the laboratory phase, and few success stories are translated into clinical trials and medical practice. This review will demonstrate the numerous challenges that are encountered during the development of commercial nanoparticle-based therapeutics and the possible solutions.

Keywords: Diagnostics; Drug delivery; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Translation medicine.