Cancer Active Targeting Strategies

Among many other adverse effects of conventional anti-cancer therapy, off-site targeting or low targeting is very challenging. In this regard, nanocarriers have revolutionized therapeutic strategies by targeting drug delivery and minimizing the toxicity of anti-cancer drugs. Other advantages of active targeting through nanocarrier-mediated drug delivery include a high concentration of the drug at the tumor site, increased stability of the drug molecules, and also improved drug formulations. Active drug targeting has also overcome the problem of high dosage administration, non-desired drug accumulation, and off-site toxicity of the anti-tumor drugs. This chapter will discuss the recent development in the active targeting of nanocarriers for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs through cancer cell surface expressed receptors, tumor cell organelle-specific targeting, tumor microenvironment targeting, and targeting angiogenesis. Various ligands used as conjugates to the nanocarriers and types of nanocarriers and their formulations have also been discussed. Moreover, benefits and current challenges for the development of actively targeted nanocarriers have been demonstrated. This chapter will give the readers a precise insight into the active targeting strategies covering all aspects, e.g., nanocarriers, ligands, and receptors.