Opportunities and challenges in targeted carrier-based intracellular drug delivery: Increased efficacy and reduced toxicity

Abstract

The discovery of new therapeutic agents and targets depending upon the pathophysiology of various diseases has necessitated the delivery of therapeutic molecules to specific cellular sub-compartments. The efficiency of various treatments can be improved by carefully designing new therapeutic strategies involving modifications of nanocarriers enabling organelle-specific targeting of bioactives. In order to do that, in-depth studies to unravel the pathophysiology of diseases, internalization and intracellular trafficking pathways, as well as the time-dependent fate and release of encapsulated cargo from nanocarriers within the organelles are much needed. Despite the interdisciplinary efforts from the fields of medicine, materials science, and engineering, and the development of various nanomedicines with a precise control over their physical and chemical attributes, the subcellular targeted delivery still presents formidable challenges. Further, considering the fact that drug repurposing is now gaining interest, an intersection of nanocarriers and drug repurposing would provide key benefits like reduced time, cost, and risk in developing safer and more effective treatments for several indications. The significant opportunities and challenges in further progress toward bench-to-bedside translation of organelle-targeted nanomedicines are discussed in this chapter.