2. Designing nanotechnology tools for therapeutic and diagnostic applications

The design of such nanotechnology-based tools is a complex process. It requires mastery of synthesis methods and the physico-chemical, biopharmaceutical and pharmacological characterization of nano-sized objects. The design of nanomedicines must also take into account the constraints imposed by the development of any pharmaceutical system intended for human administration.

• Thus, nanovectors proposed for therapeutic or diagnostic applications in vivo must necessarily meet two main criteria:

  • the materials of which they are made must be biodegradable (or easily eliminated from the body), and they must not induce toxic reactions;

  • they must be able to be loaded with active ingredients (or contrast agents) and transported, then released, to the biological target....