Nanoparticle Based Drug Delivery System: Milestone for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

The challenge of modern drug therapy is the optimization of the pharmacological action of the drugs coupled with the reduction of their toxic effects in vivo. The prime objectives in the design of drug delivery systems (DDS) are the controlled delivery of the drug to its site of action at a therapeutically optimal rate and dosage to avoid toxicity and improve the drug effectiveness and therapeutic index. DDS has improved many of the pharmacological properties of conventional ("free") drugs including particulate carriers which are primarily composed of lipids and/or polymers and their associated therapeutics. It alters the pharmacokinetics (PK) and biodistribution (BD) of the associated drugs or functions as drug reservoir or both. Nanoparticles provide a range of new opportunities to increase the targeting of currently approved diagnostic and therapeutic agents to cancers. Nanoparticles carrying a chemotherapeutic can reduce the undesirable distribution of such agents. The problems related to cancer chemotherapy can partially be overcome by direct intratumoral delivery of controlled release biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs).

KEY WORDS: Nanotechnology, Cancer, Drug Delivery System, Nanoparticles