1 Graduate Student, Industrial Chemistry Department, University of Ilorin.
2 Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Ilorin.
Review Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(02), 1383-1393
Received on 29 September 2024; revised on 09 November 2024; accepted on 11 November 2024
Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have developed as a novel approach to cancer treatment, notably chemotherapy, with higher precision, efficacy, and less side effects than traditional approaches. Chemotherapy, while successful in targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells, frequently encounters considerable hurdles such as systemic toxicity, non-targeted drug distribution, and resistance. Nanotechnology offers a promising alternative for targeted delivery, controlled release, and overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR). Various nanocarriers, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and metallic nanoparticles, have been developed to improve drug delivery by leveraging the increased permeability and retention (EPR) effect for tumour targeting. The design of these nanocarriers, which includes size, surface qualities, and functionality, provides longer circulation time, increased tumour formation, and fewer side effects on healthy tissues. Despite multiple clinical achievements, such as the FDA's clearance of nanomedicines like Doxil and Abraxane, there are still obstacles in translating these technologies from laboratory research to clinical practice. Nanoparticle stability, scalability, regulatory barriers, and cytotoxicity are all important considerations. This study examines the current state of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, emphasizing clinical accomplishments, problems, and upcoming technologies such as stimuli-responsive and AI-assisted drug delivery systems. The future of cancer treatment is in the creation of smart nanocarriers that can combine chemotherapy with other therapeutic modalities such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, and photodynamic therapy. Hence, personalized nanomedicine, which tailors drug delivery systems to individual patients' genetic profiles and tumour features, is a promising future direction. Overall, this review seeks to investigate the most recent developments and future prospects in nanotechnology-driven chemotherapy.
Nanotechnology; Drug delivery systems; Chemotherapy; Cancer treatment; Pharmacokinetics.
Preview Article PDF
Qudus Onagun and Kenneth Stephen. Nanotechnology-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Chemotherapy: A Review of Current Approaches and Future Prospects. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(2), 1383-1393. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.24.2.3418