Precision Medicine: The Role of Drug Carriers and Targets in Targeted Drug Delivery

Targeted drug delivery, also known as smart drug delivery, is a treatment approach that involves administering medication to specific body parts, thereby increasing the drug concentration in those areas compared to others.Drug targeting employs two main strategies: passive targeting and active targeting.Drug delivery vehicles transport the drug to the targeted area, and an ideal delivery vehicle is designed to reach challenging sites such as the blood-brain barrier.The field of Nanomedicine, the medical application of nanotechnology, has recently advanced.Due to their minute size, nanoparticles used in Nano-drug delivery can enhance drug solubility and circumvent first-pass metabolism by the liver.This technology can also extend the drug's circulation time in the bloodstream, reducing plasma level fluctuations and minimizing side effects.Examples of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems include polymer-drug conjugates and nanoparticles such as liposomes, quantum dots, and dendrimers.Other approaches involve coupling therapeutic agents with targeting ligands capable of identifying tumour-associated antigens.