Abstract

NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY APPROACHES IN CANCER TREATMENT TO MINIMIZE POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECTS – A REVIEW

C. Leelamani *, D. Girirajasekhar, R. Vineela Hasiny, S. Sravana Kumari and S. Manideep Royal

ABSTRACT

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The majority of cancer patients receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but these treatments are only partially effective and are associated with severe side effects and high toxicity, lowering quality of life. By selectively targeting cancer cells, nanotechnology improves chemotherapy and reduces the side effects of conventional drugs. Modern nanotechnology-based chemotherapy focuses on precise drug delivery to cancer tissues while minimizing negative effects on healthy cells. In contrast compared to conventional cancer therapies, novel approaches such as ligand or receptor-based targeting, triggered release, intracellular drug targeting, gene delivery, cancer stem cell therapy, magnetic drug targeting, and ultrasound-mediated drug delivery have added new cancer treatment options. These technologies have resulted in the selective detection of cancerous cells, enabling for their
eradication with minimum side effects. Lowering multi-drug resistance and using influx transportation in targeted drug delivery to cancer cells can also have a substantial impact on cancer therapeutic interventions. In modern nanotechnology, various nano carriers such as liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and niosomes are used due to specific advantages such as enhanced biocompatibility, reduced adverse effects, increased drug solubility, enhanced permeability, and decreased drug resistance. This review looks at the advances in polymer-based targeted nano carriers and their therapeutic applications in oncology.

Keywords: Novel drug delivery, conventional drug, adverse effects, Nanocarriers,, toxicity.