Nanoparticles (NPs) Based Drug Delivery System: An Inspiring Therapeutic Strategy for Cancer Therapy and Their Future Prospects

Nanoparticles (NPs)-based drug delivery systems (DDs) have emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy, offering targeted, controlled, and efficient drug delivery while minimizing systemic toxicity. Their unique physicochemical properties, including high surface area, tunable size, and enhanced permeability, enable precise tumor targeting through passive, active, and stimuli-responsive mechanisms. The various nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric NPs, dendrimers, and metallic NPs have been extensively explored for chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, and theranostic applications. The ability of NPs to overcome multidrug resistance (MDR), enhance drug bioavailability, and facilitate combination therapies has significantly improved treatment outcomes. Despite the remarkable advancements, challenges such as biocompatibility, large-scale production, and regulatory approval remain critical hurdles. Future research will focus on personalized nanomedicine, smart and multifunctional nanocarriers, gene-editing nanoparticle systems, and green nanotechnology for safer and more effective cancer treatments. The continuous evolution of NPs in cancer therapy holds immense potential to transform oncology, paving the way for patient-specific, minimally invasive, and highly efficient treatment modalities. This review article focuses on nanocarriers such as lipid-based, polymeric, and inorganic nanoparticles as a drug delivery system and their applications in cancer therapy. The current limitations and future perspectives of various nanoparticle-based DDS in cancer therapy are also discussed. Keywords: Drug delivery, Nanocarriers, NDDS, Sustained, Targeted