Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Drug Delivery Systems for Precision Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, largely due to limitations in conventional chemotherapy such as non-specific toxicity, poor drug solubility, and systemic side effects. Nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges by enabling precision cancer therapy. This study paper examines recent advances in the design, functionalization, and application of nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in oncology. Various nanoparticle platforms, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, and lipid-based nanocarriers, are discussed in terms of their physicochemical properties and therapeutic potential. The review highlights targeting strategies such as passive targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and active targeting using ligand-receptor interactions to improve tumor specificity. Additionally, the role of nanoparticles in controlled drug release, multi-drug delivery, and combined therapeutic modalities such as chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and gene therapy is explored. Despite significant progress, challenges including toxicity concerns, immune clearance, large-scale manufacturing, and clinical translation remain critical barriers. This review synthesizes current knowledge on nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery and emphasizes its potential to revolutionize precision cancer therapy by improving therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects.