Based on recent FDA analysis, the number of submissions of drugs with nanomaterials has risen considerably over the last two decades. Of these, 65% are investigational new drugs, 17% are new drug applications and 18% are abbreviated new drug applications, with the largest class of products being liposomal formulations intended for cancer treatments. This analysis shows the new trend of incorporating nanotechnology in drug development programs.

The reasons behind the increase of nanomaterials use in drugs are mostly due to their characteristics such their prolonged circulation time, their reduced volume of distribution and drug accumulation at healthy non-target tissues, and their potential for targeting specific tumors either via passive or active mechanisms.

Nature Nanotechnology: http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nnano.2017.67.html