Targeting drugs to cancer: A tough journey to the tumor cell

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents continue to represent the preferred therapeutic option for most malignancies. Despite major therapeutic potential, their use is limited due to severe side-effects and inefficient delivery to the tumor site. In the last four decades, researchers investigated the use of nano-sized drug delivery systems (i.e., nanomedicines) for targeting of anticancer agents. Using a nano-sized macromolecule as scaffold for drug delivery to tumors is an efficient approach to improve the delivery of drugs by ameliorating biodistribution, reducing toxicity, preventing degradation, and enhancing cellular uptake. Nevertheless, in some cases, nonselective targeting is insufficient and the incorporation of a ligand moiety is required for improved accumulation of the drug in the tumor cell. This chapter discusses the different targeting strategies used for delivery of nanomedicines to cancer cells.