Ultrasonic Nanoparticle Preparation for Pharmaceuticals0 pages

Ultrasonic Treatment of Nanoparticles for Pharmaceuticals
Ultrasound is an innovative technology that is used successfully for sonochemical synthesis,
deagglomeration, dispersion, emulsifying, functionalization and activation of particles.
Particularly in nanotechnology, the ultrasonication is an essential technique for the synthesis
and processing purposes of nano-size materials. Since nanotechnology has gained this
outstanding scientific interest, nano-sized particles are utilized in extraordinarily many
scientific and industrial fields. Also the pharma branch has discovered the high potential of
this flexible and variable material. Consequently, nanoparticles are involved into various
functional applications in the pharmaceutical industry, these include:
• drug delivery (carrier)
• diagnostic products
• product packaging
• biomarker discovery
As nanomaterials are defined as particles with a dimension less than 100nm this means that
the production and processing of these substances require higher efforts.
Especially, drug delivery via nanoparticles is already a proven method for delivering active
agents which have been administered before oral or by injection. (Bawa 2008) Nanoformulated drugs can be dosed and delivered much more efficient as new techniques open
completely novel ways of medical treatments. This high-potential technology helps
delivering drugs, heat, or other active substances to specific cells, i.e. diseased cells. By this
direct drug delivery, healthy cells are untroubled by drug effects. One field, in that nanoformulated drugs already show their promising results is the cancer therapy. In the cancer
therapy it is the big advantage of nano-sized substances that high doses of drug molecules
can be delivered directly to the tumor cells for maximum effects while minimizing side
effects to other organs. (Liu et al.2008) This advantage results in the nano-size by that the
particles are able to pass cell walls and membranes and release the drug’s active agents
directly at the targeted cells.
To form and to process nanoparticles, agglomerates have to be broken and bonding forces
have to been overcome. Ultrasonic cavitation is a well-known technology to deagglomerate
and disperse nanomaterials. The diversity of nanomaterials and forms opens manifold
changes for pharmaceutical research. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have a large inner volume
which allows more drug molecules to be encapsulated, and they have distinct inner and
outer surfaces for functionalization. (Hilder et al. 2008) By that, CNTs are able to carry
various molecules such as active agents, DNA, proteins, peptides, targeting ligands etc. into
cells. CNTs have been recognized as the quintessential nanomaterials and have acquired the
status of one of the most active fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology. The MWCNT is
composed of 2–30 concentric graphitic layers, the diameters of which range from 10 to 50
nm and length more than 10 μm. On the other hand, SWCNT is much thinner, with diameter
ranging from 1.0 to 1.4 nm. (Srinivasan 2008) Nanoparticles as well as nanotubes can enter
cells and can be taken up by them completely. In particular funtionalized Carbon Nanotubes
(f-CNTs) are known to enhance solubility and allow an efficient tumor targeting. By that, f-