The drugs used in conventional chemotherapy targets both cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells. This makes the treatment of the cancer cells highly ineffective due to excessive toxicities. Various attempts have been made to combat tumors specifically to spare non-cancerous cells. But, cancer cells develop resistance to the conventional chemotherapeutics and the newer molecular approach thereby evading the cytotoxicity. Due to several advantages, nanomedicines can be a promising approach for an effective and specific chemotherapy. Firstly, due to high surface to volume ratio, nanoscale carriers reduce the distribution volume of the drug, therefore improving the pharmacokinetics and the biodistribution of the drug to specific organs. Secondly, specificity imposed to the nanocarriers lowers the cytotoxicity to healthy tissues. Thirdly, easier delivery of hydrophobic drugs in parenteral mode. Fourthly, the stability of several therapeutic drugs like peptides, hydrophobic compounds, etc. is found to increase using this delivery system. Finally, safe nanocarriers due to biodegradable polymers due to lower side effects and better efficacy.(Misra R, Upadhyay M, Mohanty S, Design Considerations for Chemotherapeutic Drug Nanocarriers)
Last date updated on September, 2024
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