Development of Supramolecules in the Field of Nanomedicines

Abstract

Nanomedicine is a rapidly expanding field that uses nanomaterials of novel chemical, physical, and biological features to diagnose and treat the diseases. Supramolecules are the conjugates formed by the non-covalent interactions of two or more chemical compounds. Supramolecular conjugates are used for activities that may not be present in their independent fragments utilized for conjugation. Supramolecular chemistry encompasses a broad range of substances, ranging from small biochemical complexes to macromolecular assemblies. Many supramolecules have been so far utilized as drugs in the pharmaceutical sector. Supramolecular nanomedicine has increased bioavailability, good biocompatibility, better targetability, reduced multidrug resistances, lesser toxicity, and fewer adverse effects. The supramolecular assemblies are basic components prepared in various sizes, structures, and proportions that develop nanoparticulate drug(s) or gene delivery systems. In a broad sense, the supramolecular nanocarrier is defined by specific characteristics that include an increased drug or gene loading capability or other attributes, such as super-paramagnetism, as seen in iron oxide nanoparticles. The supramolecular nanomedicine held a lot of promise for improving the patient compliance and therapeutic effectiveness. Because of its benefits in advancing drug loading capacity, improved in vivo performance, and simplifying the developmental strategy, supramolecular aggregation nanocarrier has received much interest as a remarkable nanocarrier. The supramolecular nanocarriers are typically further customized depending on the individual application, like surface functionalization with polyethylene glycols (PEG) for intravenous administration to avoid the premature clearance and enhance blood circulation time, regardless of their composition. This book chapter deals with the recent developments and advancements of supramolecules in the field of nanomedicine. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.