Drug-loaded nanocarriers in tumor targeted drug delivery

Abstract

Background: Cancer cells are more susceptible than normal cells to the effect of chemotherapeutic agents and most of the anticancer drugs can cause harm to the normal cells. Optimum dose and frequency are both important factors in the persistence of cancer cells during cancer chemotherapy. Now attempts have been focusing on efforts to kill cancer cells by more specific targeting while sparing the normal cells by drug loaded nanocarriers. Methods: We review technical papers and other articles related to nanoparticles, which have been developed as effective target specific strategies for cancer treatment, acting as nanocarriers and also as active agents. Results: This review will allow to gain a more general view of the various drug loaded nanocarriers which offers a predominantly unique set of chemical, physical and photonic properties for better drug delivery to the tumor tissues based on morphological and functional differences between normal and tumor tissues. Conclusion: Nanoparticulate delivery systems in cancer therapies provide better penetration of therapeutic and diagnostic substances with the cancerous tissue in comparison to conventional cancer therapies. Thus nanocarriers can be used for strategic development of novel drug delivery systems and reformulating existing drugs to enhance effectiveness.