GREEN NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DRUG DELIVERY: FROM SOLVENT-FREE SYSTEMS TO BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Abstract

Sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing has brought green nanotechnology into closer focus as a practical route for improving drug delivery while reducing environmental burden. At the interface of green chemistry and nanomedicine, this approach seeks to limit hazardous reagents, reduce waste, and incorporate biodegradable materials without losing the therapeutic advantages associated with nanoscale carriers. This narrative review examines recent developments in green nanotechnology for drug delivery, concentrating on two closely related areas: solvent-free nanocarrier systems and biodegradable polymer-based formulations. Solvent-free methods, including melt emulsification, supercritical fluid processing, and melt electrospinning, provide cleaner alternatives to solvent-dependent fabrication and may simplify downstream processing. Biodegradable polymers, including poly(lactic acid), poly(glycolic acid), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), chitosan, and alginate, offer adaptable platforms for controlled release and degradation into comparatively safe by-products. The review also considers green fabrication strategies, pharmaceutical applications, regulatory expectations, and the barriers that continue to affect translation into industrial practice. Although issues related to scalability, reproducibility, cost, and regulatory harmonization remain unresolved, green nanotechnology offers a realistic framework for developing drug delivery systems that are clinically useful and environmentally responsible. Continued progress will depend on stronger evidence for safety, more scalable manufacturing routes, and clearer regulatory pathways.