Stability of therapeutic nano-drugs during storage and transportation as well as after ingestion in the human body

Nanoparticles are often used as nano-drug conjugates to deliver therapeutic agents to a specific target site in a controlled release manner. Nano-drug delivery is one of the exciting research fields in recent times. Both the bioavailability and in vivo distribution of nano-drugs rely on the biophysical and biochemical properties of nanoparticles. Various factors such as size, shape, kind of material used to prepare nanoparticles, and their surface characteristics influence the stability of nanoparticles. Further, the shelf life of nano-drug conjugates improved by encapsulation with specific polymer stabilizers, whereas phase transition and additive conjugates contribute to the stability of nano-drugs. The challenges in nano-drug target delivery include crossing the biological barriers, escaping the phagocyte system, and release kinetics at the intended site of action. This chapter discusses the strategies that are being implemented to enhance the stability of nano-drugs during storage, transportation, and after ingestion.