CURRENT PROGRESS IN THERAPIES AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED CANCER TREATMENT

Abstract

Cancer afflicts millions worldwide, presenting a complex challenge with current treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which, while effective, often induce severe side effects and harm healthy cells. Targeted drug delivery systems (DDS) offer a promising avenue for cancer treatment by delivering medications directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This review provides an extensive summary of the state of the art in targeted drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, exploring their types, limitations, recent advancements, and future potential. DDS has evolved significantly over recent decades, leveraging advancements in pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Controlled drug release, pioneered in the 1950s, has revolutionized drug delivery by offering predetermined release rates and durations, thereby optimizing therapeutic efficacy. These systems exhibit prolonged lifespan, maintaining effectiveness over days to years, and provide precise control over drug release kinetics and spatial distribution. Moreover, they mitigate drug toxicity, enhance pharmacological activity, improve target site accumulation, and bolster patient compliance and acceptance.Cancer, characterized by aberrant cell proliferation, necessitates multifaceted treatment approaches involving surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, though widely used, poses challenges due to its systemic nature and non-specific targeting, resulting in collateral damage to healthy tissues. The significance of targeted drug delivery lies in its potential to enhance cancer treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. In conclusion, targeted drug delivery systems represent a pivotal advancement in cancer therapy, offering improved efficacy and reduced toxicity compared to conventional treatments.