Encapsulation methods of active molecules for drug delivery

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of nanotechnology in the medicinal field in order to improve existing treatments and develop novel and efficient therapies. Nanostructured systems have attracted unprecedented interest in drug delivery due to their ability to overcome difficulties linked to conventional drug delivery systems. Nanocarriers increase drug solubility and permeability, improve bioavailability, reduce side effects, and enhance the therapeutic efficiency, while providing a preferential accumulation of active molecules at specific tissue sites or cells. This chapter highlights the different elaboration processes leading to the development of two main groups of organic nanocarriers; lipid-based nanocarriers (including liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles) and polymer-based nanocarriers (including polymeric nanoparticles). These carriers are used to encapsulate and to deliver active molecules or in some cases, for in vitro diagnosis and more recently in theranostics applications.