Discover how nanosuspension technology is revolutionizing drug delivery by enhancing bioavailability of poorly soluble medications
Like a sugar cube dissolving slowly, traditional drugs with poor solubility have limited surface area exposed to digestive fluids.
Up to 90% of new drug candidates have poor solubility, limiting their effectiveness and potentially preventing life-saving treatments.
Bioavailability is the proportion of a drug that enters your bloodstream and can actively do its job. When a drug has poor aqueous solubility, your body can only absorb a tiny fraction of it.
Breaking drug crystals into nanoparticles dramatically increases the total surface area exposed to digestive fluids.
At nano-scale, physical properties change, allowing more drug to dissolve than normally possible.
More drug enters the bloodstream, making medications work more effectively and reliably.
Scientists developed a nanosuspension for a fictional, poorly soluble anti-fungal drug called "Fungox" using wet media milling.
Percentage of Fungox dissolved in simulated gastric fluid after 30 minutes
Analysis: The nanosuspension dissolved almost completely and rapidly, while the traditional powder languished, with most of it undissolved.
| Parameter | Traditional Powder | Nanosuspension | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cmax (ng/mL) Peak concentration |
450 | 1,850 | 311% |
| Tmax (hours) Time to peak concentration |
4.0 | 1.5 | Much Faster |
| AUC (ng·h/mL) Total drug exposure |
2,800 | 11,500 | 411% |
Tracking particle size (nm) during storage to monitor stability
| Storage Condition | Time Point | Average Particle Size (nm) | Stability Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4°C (Refrigerator) | Day 0 | 350 | Stable |
| 1 Month | 355 | Stable | |
| 3 Months | 365 | Stable | |
| 25°C (Room Temp) | Day 0 | 350 | Stable |
| 1 Month | 510 | Moderate Growth | |
| 3 Months | > 1000* | Unstable |
*Indicates significant particle growth and instability.
Analysis: The formulation is stable under refrigeration, but requires optimization for room-temperature storage, a common focus of ongoing research.
Creating a stable nanosuspension requires specialized tools and ingredients to prevent nanoparticles from sticking back together.
The "engine" that provides intense mechanical energy to break down drug crystals into nanoparticles.
Tiny, hard spheres (e.g., Zirconium Dioxide) that act like billions of miniature hammers, shattering drug particles through collision.
Crucial ingredients like polymers or surfactants that coat nanoparticles, preventing them from aggregating.
The active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) itself, which must have the right solid-state properties to be successfully milled.
Nanosuspension technology is a powerful testament to the idea that sometimes, the biggest solutions come in the smallest packages. By conquering the challenge of poor solubility, this approach is breathing new life into dormant drug candidates and enabling the development of more effective, reliable, and patient-friendly medications.
From powerful anti-cancer drugs to life-saving antifungals and beyond, the ability to "nano-size" our medicines is ensuring that the potent molecules discovered in labs can successfully complete their journey to the cells that need them most. The future of medicine is not just about discovering new drugs, but also about smartly engineering how we deliver them.