Self-ordered nanopore and nanotube platforms for drug delivery applications

The application of nanotechnology to medicine termed as 'nanomedicine' is recognised as an emerging field with enormous potential for developing new therapeutic concepts. A range of nanoscale materials have been explored in the last few years for drug delivery to address the problems associated with conventional drug therapies such as limited drug solubility, poor biodistribution, lack of selectivity and unfavourable pharmacokinetics. Among them, nanoporous materials with ordered and controlled pore structures, high surface area and pore volume, attracted great attention, particularly for implantable drug delivery systems. This review presents the recent progress in this field focused on electrochemically engineered nanopores/nanotube materials such as nanoporous alumina and nanotubular titania. The basic concept of fabrication of these unique materials using a self-ordering process, description of their structural properties, biocompatibility and recent applications for therapeutic implants is presented.