Targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy: A promising approach for effective treatment

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches to treatment. Targeted drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy while minimizing side effects. By delivering therapeutic agents directly to the site of action, these systems can increase the concentration of drugs in tumor tissues while reducing exposure to healthy cells. This review highlights the principles, advantages, and challenges of targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy, with a focus on nanotechnology-based approaches. Various types of nanocarriers, including nanoparticles, dendrimers, liposomes, and micelles, have shown potential in delivering drugs to cancer cells in a targeted manner. Active and passive targeting strategies have been explored, with active targeting utilizing ligands to bind to overexpressed receptors on cancer cells. Despite the promise of targeted drug delivery, further research is needed to overcome challenges such as rapid removal of nanocarriers from the body and potential toxicity. Nevertheless, targeted drug delivery holds great potential for improving cancer treatment outcomes and reducing side effects.