Current Status and Future Prospect of Receptor Targeted Nanocarrier Delivery of Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract

Cancer is an intricate and prevalent disease affecting millions of people worldwide. While conventional treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy remain standard approaches, they often come with severe side effects and unintentional damage to healthy cells. In response to these challenges, targeted drug delivery systems have developed as a promising strategy in cancer therapy. These systems offer the advantage of delivering drugs directly to cancer cells, mitigating toxicity to surrounding normal tissues and enhancing treatment efficacy. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of targeted drug delivery systems in cancer treatment. It explores the different types of these systems, their mechanisms, and associated challenges, such as drug resistance, stability, and scalability. Additionally, recent advancements in nanotechnology, receptor-targeted approaches, and stimuli-responsive drug delivery methods will be discussed, highlighting their potential to improve precision in cancer treatment. Furthermore, this review examines future research directions, including the integration of artificial intelligence in drug design, the development of multifunctional nanocarriers, and the incorporation of immunotherapeutic agents. By assessing both the progress and potential of targeted drug delivery systems, this review aims to underscore their significance in revolutionizing cancer therapy. Ultimately, these innovations hold the potential of enhancing treatment outcomes, mitigating side effects, and improving the quality of life for cancer patients.