Komal Jadhav*
The word "cancer" refers to a broad category of over 100 diseases that are defined by unchecked cell division and proliferation brought on by genetic and cellular changes. Every type of cancer has unique biological and molecular characteristics, and it can arise in almost every tissue in the body. Cancer starts when a cell divides continuously and uncontrollably instead of adhering to the normal regulatory systems that govern proliferation. Hippocrates used the Greek word "Karkinoma," which was ultimately translated into the Latin word "cancer," to describe the disease more than 2,300 years ago. (1,2) The incidence of cancer is still rising, making it the second most common cause of death globally. About 1,665,540 new instances of cancer were diagnosed in the US in 2014 alone, and 585,720 fatalities were recorded. Prostate, lung, colon, and bladder cancers are the most common cancers in males, whereas breast, lung, colon, uterine, and thyroid cancers are the most common in women. The most common malignancies in children are lymphatic, brain, and hematological. The illness arises from a series of genetic mutations that change regular cellular processes, frequently brought on by chemical and environmental influences. (3) The intricate and varied nature of cancer presents considerable difficulties in achieving precise diagnoses and effective treatments. Traditional chemotherapy is still a fundamental aspect of cancer treatment; however, it does not differentiate well, as cancer cells have many biological traits in common with normal cells. Consequently, chemotherapy can harm healthy tissues, resulting in significant side effects and reduced treatment effectiveness. To address these restrictions, targeted drug delivery systems (DDS) have arisen as a hopeful treatment approach. Targeted DDS facilitate the accurate delivery of therapeutic agents straight to cancer cells, reducing systemic toxicity. These systems improve treatment effectiveness by utilizing particular cellular and molecular processes, such as inducing cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting proliferation, and disrupting metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, focusing on and altering the tumor microenvironment (TM) has emerged as a significant complementary approach, enabling treatments to operate more efficiently within the intricate tumor setting.
In contrast to traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapies focus on specifically targeting cancerous cells while preserving healthy tissues through unique molecular mechanisms (4,5) Nanotechnology has greatly improved the creation of targeted drug delivery systems. It entails the deliberate design of materials at the nanoscale (1–100 nm), allowing for the development of nanosystems with improved or unique functional characteristics. Nanoparticles, created via molecular-level fabrication, exhibit distinct physicochemical properties including a large surface-area-to-volume ratio, enhanced reactivity, structural integrity, ability to modify surfaces, and potential for self-assembly. These characteristics render them especially appropriate for cancer treatment. Their diminutive size permits infiltration through biological barriers, and their customizable surfaces allow for the attachment of targeting ligands, promoting targeted drug accumulation within tumor tissues. (6)
3. Types of Nanoparticles Used in Targeted Drug Delivery
3.1 Liposomes:
Liposomes are round, self-contained entities created by self-organizing lipid bilayers that encapsulate a central aqueous core. This lipid-centered method is becoming more common for administering different cancer medications using various preparation techniques. Significant instances comprise anthracyclines such as doxorubicin (available as Doxil or Myocet) for Kaposi’s sarcoma and daunorubicin (DaunoXome) for metastatic breast cancer. These liposomes provide a significant benefit compared to other nanocarriers by improving the selectivity, bioavailability, and biocompatibility of anticancer medications. Researchers use specific types like pH-sensitive liposomes and immunoliposomes to accomplish this. Liposomes coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) are notable for their exceptional drug-trapping capability; they selectively attach to tumor cells in targeted scenarios, facilitating effective absorption and destruction of the cells (7,8)
10.5281/zenodo.18942944