Nanoencapsulation in Drug Delivery: Everything You Need to Know

nanoparticle encapsulation in drug delivery

Key Takeaways for Nanoencapsulation

  • Nanoencapsulation enables targeted, long-acting drug delivery. By entrapping drugs within nanocarriers, nanoencapsulation improves bioavailability, controls release over extended periods, and reduces systemic toxicity, which benefits both patients and providers.
  • Nanocarriers enhance efficacy while improving patient compliance. Controlled release, protection from premature degradation, and reduced injection frequency lead to more effective therapies and easier treatment regimens.
  • The Oakwood Labs Chroniject™ platform supports flexible, reliable formulations. The patented microsphere system delivers consistent drug release from one week to one year, uses biodegradable polymers, and supports proven stability, uniformity, and sterile manufacturing.

How Nanoencapsulation Powers Long-Acting Injectable Drug Delivery

Nanoencapsulation is an expanding area of scientific research and development that impacts industries ranging from cosmetics to food production to pharmaceuticals. This area of nanoscience enables the controlled release of nutrients within the body for a specified location and duration, allowing nanoparticle drug delivery to supply a wealth of benefits.

The Oakwood Labs team is comprised of experts in developing long-acting injectables for diverse purposes, and that includes our work with nanoparticle encapsulation. Read on to learn about the benefits of nanoencapsulation in long-acting injectables and everything Oakwood Labs can provide.

Why Use Nanoparticles for LAI?

Nanoparticles are frequently used in long-acting injectables because they allow developers to control where a drug is released, how fast it will act, and how long it will operate within the body. They also support less frequent dosing, leading to a better adherence to routine.

The particle size and surface properties can also influence the tissue distribution and lymphatic uptake, as well as how long the particles remain in circulation. This can determine whether the injectable achieves local or systemic long-acting effects. Lastly, they can reduce systemic side effects when compared with conventional oral or immediate release functions.

Beyond patient reliability, polymeric or lipid nanoparticle suspensions offer better local tolerability while providing extended-release capabilities. Additionally, when compared to oil-based depots that can cause injection site pain or irritation, polymeric or lipid nanoparticle suspensions offer better tolerability while still offering extended-release properties. Nanosuspensions that are aqueous can also be stabilized with appropriate surfactants or polymers. If needed, they can be lyophilized for longer shelf life, which supports practical clinical use.

About Nanoparticle Encapsulation

Encapsulation is the process of entrapping a material within another material, creating particles of variable sizes. These particles can be measured in millimeters, micrometers (denoted as microencapsulation), and nanometers (denoted as nanoencapsulation).

These particles are referred to as nanocarriers, or NCs, and they deliver an array of benefits for organizations, medical professionals, and patients alike.

Advantages of Encapsulation for Nanoparticles and Their Use in Long-Acting Injectables

Using nanoencapsulation in drug delivery can offer a range of benefits, including:

  • Targeted delivery and bioavailability for patients suffering from a range of conditions
  • Controlled release of medications that aid patients over longer periods
  • Reduced systemic toxicity that can be associated with certain drugs due to efficient loading of drug molecules within nanocarriers
  • Increased accumulation of a distributed drug at the distribution site of choice via targeted nanocarriers
  • Increased efficacy of therapeutic agents and their targeting
  • Prevention of premature degradation within the patient’s body and prolonged presence within blood and cells
  • Nanocarriers of variable sizes can be created using distinct matrices, which can impact their effectiveness against biological barriers and their in vivo performance
  • Reduced number of injections needed for a patient, which can make medication distribution easier and patients more compliant
  • Prevention of drug abuse as excessive amounts of a drug will not need to be distributed to patients

The Oakwood Labs Chroniject™ Approach for Nanoencapsulation

Our long-acting injectable development at Oakwood Labs uses our technology platform Chroniject™, a patented polymer-based injectable microsphere system for nanoparticle drug delivery. This system allows us to:

  • Provide drug release durations of 1 week to 1 year
  • Distribute medications via 18- to 23-gauge needles
  • Reconstitute products immediately via sterile water
  • Provide proven drug stability and content uniformity
  • Supply solutions free of foreign particulate matter
  • Fulfill formulations aseptically and terminally sterilized if feasible
  • Use microsphere-based, biodegradable polymers such as PLA, PLGA, and other polymers with demonstrated low toxicity, and sourced from multiple suppliers

Other Services from Oakwood Labs

At Oakwood Labs we’re industry leaders in sustained-release drug delivery, and that extends beyond our work in encapsulation for nanoparticles. We have over 25 years of experience in the field, and our team supplies full-service support, from initial feasibility studies to FDA-approved commercial supply.

We proudly offer a diverse array of services in the development and manufacturing of sustained-release products, including:

Contact Us for Nanoencapsulation in Long-Acting Injectables

If your operations require nanoparticle encapsulation, the Oakwood Labs team is ready to assist. Contact us today to discuss your project.

Mark Ilhan
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