Nanopowder is a material fabricated on the nanoscale with grain and feature sizes typically under 100 nanometres. The basis of nanotechnology is the ability to form nano-sized particles, for example nanopowders, which are solid particles that measure on the nanoscale. Nanopowders have been of extreme interest in the pharmaceutical field. Drug delivery has been impacted in several ways due to the advances in nanopowder technology
Production of Nanopowder
Production of Nanopowder
- Conventional Methods
- Milling, grinding, jet milling, crushing, and air micronization
- Super Critical Fluids (SCF)
- Rapid Expansion of Supercritical Solutions (RESS)
- Supercritical Anti-Solvent (SAS)
- Aerosol Solvent Extraction System (ASES)
- Solution Enhanced Dispersion by Supercritical fluids (SEDS)
- Particles from Gas Saturated Solutions (PGSS)
- Depressurization of Expanded Liquid Organic Solution (DELOS)
Conventional Methods
Conventional methods of particle size reduction include milling, grinding, jet milling, crushing, and air micronization. CM might not accomplish the desired amount of particle size reduction.
CM drawback is associated with the physical and chemical properties of the materials undergoing size reduction. Certain compounds are chemically sensitive or thermo-liable, such as explosives, chemical intermediates, or pharmaceuticals which can not be processed using conventional methods due to the physical effects of these methods.
Applications of Nanopowders
Nanopowder has many applications in different fields.
- Ceramics used in nano sized powders are more ductile at elevated temperatures compared to coarse grained ceramics at low temperatures
- Nano sized powders of iron and copper have hardness about 4-6 times higher than the bulk materials because bulk materials have dislocations.
- Nano sized copper and silver are used in conducting ink and polymers.
- Nano powder has various applications in the pharmaceutical and medical field.
- Drug delivery has impacted by the advancement in nano powders smaller particles are able to be delivered in new ways to patients, through solutions, oral or injected, and aerosol, inhaler or respirator.
- New production processes allow for encapsulation of pharmaceuticals which allow for drug delivery where needed with in the body.