Polymeric and Lipid Nanoparticles: Which Applications in Pediatrics?

This review aims to provide the state of the art on polymeric and lipid nanoparticles, used or suggested to approach pediatric diseases’ problems and needs, and to inspire new researches in this field. Several drugs are currently not available in formulations suitable for pediatric patients. The United States Pediatric Formulation Initiative suggested applying new technologies to pediatric drug formulations, for instance, nanotechnology. The literature analysis showed that polymeric and lipid nanoparticles have been widely studied to treat pediatric diseases, and albumin nanoparticles and liposomes are already used in clinical practice. Nevertheless, these studies are focused almost exclusively on pediatric cancer treatment. Although nanomedicine may solve many needs of pediatric diseases and medicines, the unavailability of data on pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of both drugs and nanoparticles in pediatric patients limits the development of new pediatric medicines based on nanoparticles. Therefore, nanomedicine applied in pediatrics remains a significant challenge in the near future.

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Article information: Nieto González N, Obinu A, Rassu G, Giunchedi P, Gavini E. Polymeric and Lipid Nanoparticles: Which Applications in Pediatrics? Pharmaceutics. 2021 May;13(5) . PMCID: PMC8148525.

Natural and synthetic polymer used to make pediatric nanoparticles (created with Biorender)

Natural Polymers: Albumin, Zein, Whey, Apotransferrin, Lactoferrin, Chitosan

Synthetic Polymers: Polyethylene Glycol, Poly(alkyl cyanoceyate), Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), Poloxamer 188, Hypromellose acetate succinate, Polyvinlypryrrodidone K30, Poly(e-caprolactone), Poly(lactic acid) Eudragit RS PO/RL PO, Poly(methyl mathacrylate), Poly(beta-amino ester)

Conclusions
Polymeric and lipid NPs have been widely studied to treat pediatric diseases, but only a few are used in therapy and only to treat pediatric cancers. Great attention is paid to the excipients used, to the safe and easy-to-scale-up preparation methods and, of course, to the size in order to obtain safe carriers.

This state of the art demonstrates that NPs are able to modify the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, mask the unpleasant taste, obtain a prolonged or accelerated release and increase the efficacy of loaded drugs. Therefore, NPs could be favorable when developing new pediatric medicines not just to treat cancer but also for chronic disease, avoiding off-label use and extemporaneous formulations. Furthermore, NPs can be used as platforms for developing age-appropriate formulation for each pediatric group as required by the EMA and FDA.

The development of in vitro models, to facilitate IVIVC, as well as the increase of in vivo studies on pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of both drugs and nanoparticles, in pediatric patients, are necessary for guiding the research towards new pediatric drug delivery nanosystems.