3. Biomedical applications

Although widely used, the "classic" galenic forms of medication (tablet, suppository, cream, etc.) have a number of limitations. Active ingredients (APIs) are distributed to different tissues and cells according to their physicochemical properties (pKa, hydrophilic/hydrophobic character, molecular weight...), with no particular specificity within the organism. The dose administered must therefore be much higher than the dose that actually reaches the target, which can lead to undesirable side effects. In addition, therapeutic agents may encounter natural barriers limiting their efficacy. Molecules that are too hydrophilic or have too high a molecular weight cannot cross cell membranes, which is a problem when the target is inside the cell. To overcome these drawbacks, the development of (nano)particulate "vectors" for PA transport can be envisaged. (Nano)particles can advantageously modify...