Nanoparticles based drug delivery system for cancer therapy

Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer therapy, offering significant advantages over conventional treatments. This review explores the diverse applications of nanoparticles in cancer therapy, highlighting their role in enhancing drug delivery, reducing systemic toxicity, and overcoming challenges such as drug resistance and tumor heterogeneity. Nanoparticles, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, and more recently developed systems like carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, and exosomes, are engineered for targeted drug delivery. These nanoparticles improve the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of anticancer agents, enabling site-specific accumulation through mechanisms such as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting via ligands. Additionally, nanoparticles play a critical role in combination therapies, immunotherapy, and overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) by bypassing efflux pumps and targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Emerging innovations in “smart” nanoparticles, capable of responding to environmental triggers like pH or temperature, as well as their integration with RNA-based therapies and artificial intelligence (AI) for personalized treatment, represent the future direction of cancer nanomedicine. Despite the progress, regulatory challenges, safety concerns, and large-scale manufacturing remain key hurdles. This review provides an overview of the current landscape, challenges, and future prospects of NDDS in cancer therapy, emphasizing their potential to improve clinical outcomes and revolutionize cancer treatment.