Self-assembled nanomaterials

Abstract

Therapeutically effective and biocompatible nanomaterials based on polymer and lipid carriers, continuously lead researchers to design novel tools and strategies. Because of their potential ability to improve current therapies, these nanodevices are being extensively used as delivery devices for drugs and/or imaging agents in order to improve the efficacy and safety of the treatments, by increasing therapeutic performance and reduce side effects of several drugs, proteins and vaccines. Among all the approaches proposed in the last years, this chapter presents the most outstanding contributions in the area of self assembled nanomaterials, because they have been identified as one of the key subjects in nanoscience. We will focus in the preparation and characterization methods and the main biomedical applications reported in recent years.