Nanotechnology has the potential to change every part of our lives. Today, nanotechnology-based products are used in many areas, and one of the most important areas is drug delivery. Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems not only provide controlled delivery of drugs and improved drug solubility but also improve drug efficiency and reduce side effects via targeting mechanisms. However, compared with conventional drug delivery systems, few nanoparticle-based products are on the market and almost all are nontargeted or only passively targeted systems. In addition, obtaining targeted nanoparticle systems is quite complex and requires several evaluation mechanisms. This book discusses the production, characterization, regulation, and currently marketed targeted nanoparticle systems in a broad framework. It provides an overview of targeted nanoparticles’ (i) in vitro characterization, such as particle size, stability, ligand density, and type; (ii) in vivo behavior for different targeting areas, such as tumor, brain, and vagina; and (iii) current advances in this field, including clinical trials and regulation processes.

Yılmaz Çapan is Professor and Head of the Pharmaceutical Technology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Turkey. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Hacettepe University in 1972 and PhD with honors from the University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, France, in 1978. He has authored more than 80 publications in prestigious, refereed pharmaceutical science journals, with a current citation number of more than 2000, and 3 books. Prof. Çapan is a member of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ankara, the Turkish Pharmacists’ Association, and the Pharmacist’s Chamber of Ankara. His research interests include tabletting sustainedrelease oral solid dosage forms, bioadhesion, protein delivery from biodegradable microspheres, and brain drug targeting.

Adem Sahin is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Selçuk University, Turkey. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Erciyes University, Turkey, in 2011 and PhD with honors from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Hacettepe University, in 2017. He has been working in the pharmaceutical industry as a formulation specialist and a clinical trials executive and his research interests include brain drug delivery, cancer nanomedicine, and nanotechnology in drug delivery.

Hayrettin Tonbul is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy, İnönü University, Turkey. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Near East University, Turkey, in 2015 and PhD with honors from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Hacettepe University, in 2019. His research interests include controlled and targeted drug delivery, cancer nanomedicine, and nanotechnology in drug delivery.