Nanoparticles for the regulation of intestinal inflammation: opportunities and challenges.

Autores da FMUP

• Rui Manuel Lopes Nunes

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Neves JD
• Sarmento B

Unidades de investigação

• Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Prevalence of chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is increasing, emerging as a public health challenge. Conventional drug delivery systems targeting the colon have improved the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. However, therapy frequently results in inconsistent efficacy and toxicity problems. Novel approaches based on nanoparticles offer several advantages over conventional dosage forms due to their ability to selectively target inflamed tissues. Several formulation efforts have been made in order to obtain increasingly selective nanosized systems, some with promising results in animal models of colitis. Despite all advances, no nanomedicines are yet approved for clinical use in inflammatory bowel disease. This review discusses the most recent efforts made toward the development of nanoparticles for regulating chronic intestinal inflammation.

Keywords

• Crohn's disease; colon-targeted drug delivery; inflammatory bowel disease; nanoparticles; ulcerative colitis