Chem. J. Chinese Universities ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (10): 20220264.doi: 10.7503/cjcu20220264

• Review • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Supramolecular Interactions-mediated Nanodrug Nucleation

XU Wenzhe, ZHANG Hao()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials,College of Chemistry,Jilin University,Changchun 130012,China
  • Received:2022-04-19 Online:2022-10-10 Published:2022-05-18
  • Contact: ZHANG Hao E-mail:hao_zhang@jlu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51425303)

Abstract:

Nanoprecipitation, referring to the formation process of nanometer-sized particles from supersaturated system, is the workhorse for preparing novel nanodrugs because of the flexibility to manipulate nucleation and/or growth processes by extensively selecting the species of drugs, solvents, carriers, surfactants, and other excipients. Carrier-free nanodrugs(CFNs) have been prepared via nanoprecipitation strategy, while a variety of intermolecular weak interactions between drug molecules, typically π?π stacking and hydrophobic interaction, are dominant in the nucleation of CFNs. However, the specific roles, synergistic effects, and in particular the manipulation of these supramolecular interactions during nucleation have never been summarized. In this review, the predominant contribution of supramolecular interactions in the nucleation of CFNs is proposed according to the classical nucleation theory of nanoprecipitation firstly. Next, on the basis of the great progresses in single-drug self-assembled CFNs, the advantages of multidrug co-assembled CFNs are highlighted. In addition, supramolecular interactions-mediated nucleation is further expanded to the CFNs constructed through metal ions-involved coordination. This overview theoretically elucidates the role of supramolecular interactions in the nucleation of nanodrugs, which will undoubtedly promote the development of next-generation CFNs characterized with bio-safety, multi-functionality, and combination therapy.

Key words: Nanodrug, Nanoprecipitation, Supramolecular interaction, Carrier-free, Nucleation manipulation

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