RECENT ADVANCES IN NANOCARRIERS FOR TARGETED CANCER THERAPY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i6.54347Keywords:
Nanocarriers, Cancer therapy, Drug delivery, Targeted Therapy, Clinical advances, Future perspectivesAbstract
One treatment option is detailed re-evaluating cancer for a very innovative and efficacious form of therapy. Nanocarrier-based delivery systems have offered an impetus in the form of targeted cancer drug delivery under better drug solubility, controlled release, and selective accumulation in tumour tissue. This review intends to address the major advances in applying nanocarrier-based cancer treatment, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, micelles, and carbon-and inorganic nanoparticle-based medication. Every type of nanocarrier has very clear and peculiar features that determine the increase in bioavailability and tumour targeting through passive (enhanced permeability retention effect) and active targeting (ligand-receptor interactions, pH-sensitive mechanisms, and stimuli-responsive drug release). Nanocarriers, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, and micelles, have shown significant promise in targeted cancer therapy due to their ability to improve drug solubility, prolong circulation time, and enhance site-specific delivery while minimising systemic toxicity. Among the various platforms discussed, polymeric nanoparticles-particularly those utilising biodegradable polymers like PLGA-emerged as the most promising due to their tunable surface properties, sustained drug release profiles, and favorable biocompatibility. Despite their advantages, challenges such as biological heterogeneity, off-target accumulation, and regulatory barriers hinder clinical translation. Future efforts should focus on developing smart nanocarriers capable of stimuli-responsive release and patient-specific adaptability to overcome these limitations. The future of cancer therapy can, therefore, be expected to see a fantastic horizon in patient outcomes with the integration of such innovative platforms coming from nanocarrier with personalized medicine approaches.
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