Abstract

TARGETING OF ANTI CANCER DRUGS THROUGH NANOPARTICLES

Yerragopu Naga Surekha*, K. Hemalatha, K. Anitha, K. Lavanya and G. Ramakrishna

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Abstract

Prior studies suggested that nano particle drug delivery might improve the therapeutic response to anticancer drugs and allow the simultaneous monitoring of drug uptake by tumours. Cancer nano therapeutics are rapidly progressing and are being implemented to solve several limitations of conventional drug delivery systems such as nonspecific bio distribution and targeting, lack of water solubility, poor oral bioavailability, and low therapeutic indices. To improve the bio distribution of cancer drugs, nano particles have been designed for optimal size and surface characteristics to increase their circulation time in the bloodstream. They are also able to carry their loaded active drugs to cancer cells by selectively using the unique pathophysiology of tumours, such as their enhanced permeability and retention effect and the tumor microenvironment. In addition to this passive targeting mechanism, active targeting strategies using ligands or antibodies directed against selected tumor targets amplify the specificity of these therapeutic nano particles. Drug resistance, another obstacle that impedes the efficacy of both molecularly targeted and conventional chemotherapeutic agents, might also be overcome, or at least reduced, using nano particles. Nano particles have the ability to accumulate in cells without being recognized by P-glycoprotein, one of the main mediators of multidrug resistance, resulting in the increased intracellular concentration of drugs. Multifunctional and multiplex nano particles are now being actively investigated and are on the horizon as the next generation of nano particles, facilitating personalized and tailored cancer treatment. Targeting methotrexate increased its antitumor activity and markedly decreased its toxicity, allowing therapeutic responses not possible with a free drug.

Keywords: Nano particles, drug delivery, targeting, drug release.