Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems targeting cancer cell surfaces

Traditional cancer chemotherapy easily produces serious toxic and side effects due to the lack of specific selection of tumor cells, which restricts its curative effect. Targeted delivery can increase the concentration of drugs in the target site and reduce their toxic and side effects on normal tissues and cells. Biocompatible and surface-modifiable nanocarriers are novel drug delivery systems, which are used to specifically target tumor sites in a controllable way. One of the effective ways to design effective targeting nanocarriers is to decorate with functional ligands, which can bind to specific receptors overexpressed on the surfaces of cancer cells. Various functional ligands, including transferrin, folic acid, polypeptide and hyaluronic acid, have been widely explored to develop tumor-selective drug delivery systems. This review focuses on the research progress of various receptors overexpressed on the surfaces of cancer cells and different nano-delivery systems of anticancer drugs targeted on the surfaces of cancer cells. We believe that through continuous research and development, actively targeted cancer nano-drugs will make a breakthrough and become an indispensable platform for accurate cancer treatment.

Automated summary

Traditional cancer chemotherapy often causes serious toxic and side effects because it cannot selectively target tumor cells. Targeted delivery systems using biocompatible and surface-modifiable nanocarriers provide a solution to this problem by specifically delivering drugs to tumor sites and minimizing damage to normal tissues and cells. This review focuses on the progress in research on various receptors overexpressed on cancer cell surfaces and different nano-delivery systems for targeted anticancer drug delivery. With continued research and development, targeted cancer nano-drugs are expected to become a breakthrough and an indispensable platform for precise cancer treatment.