Targeting moiety |
Platform |
Tumour model |
Drug encapsulated |
Study outcome |
Ref. |
Folate receptor |
Dendrimer |
Oral |
Methotrexate (MTX) |
Enhance localization in tumour and liver tissue. Increased MTX antitumour effects and reduced drug toxicity |
[133] |
Liposomes |
Oral |
Doxorubicin (DOX) |
Internalization was 10 folds higher, significant reduction tumour growth and 30-50% increase in life span |
[134,135] |
Oral |
Oligo-nucleotides |
Showed no difference between targeted and nontargeted NP |
[136] |
Magnetite |
Breast |
No drug |
Increased cellular internalization |
[137] |
PSMA antigen |
PLGA-PEG |
Prostate |
Docetaxel |
Effective uptake (77 fold increase) by cells, inhibited tumour growth and drug toxicity |
[138,139] |
Tranferrin receptor |
Gold-PEG |
Solid Tumour |
No drug |
Nps localized to the tumour tissues with decreased amounts in the liver |
[140] |
Liposome |
Leukemia |
DOX and Verapamil (Pgp inhibitor) |
Cytotoxicity was 5.2 time greater that non-targeted NPs |
[141] |
Polymeric |
Prostate/ Leukemia |
Cyclodextrin |
Efficient delivery of drugs to cells |
[142] |
PLGA |
Prostate |
Paclitaxel |
Single dose induce complete inhibition of tumor growth and increased mouse survival rate (80%) |
[143] |
Epidermal
receptors |
HER-2-Liposome |
Breast |
No drug |
No significant difference observed between targeted and nontargeted Nps. |
[144] |
|
Brain |
Boron |
Cellular increase by 8 fold was observed |
[145] |
EGF-gelatin |
Lung |
No drug |
Enhanced uptake in cell in a time and dose dependent manner |
[146] |
αvβ3 integrin |
Liposome |
Pancreas/ Renal |
Doxorubicin |
NP targeted tumour vessel, induced selective apoptosis in tumour, caused a 15 fold increase in anti-metastasis activity and reduced systemic side effects |
[147] |
PLGA |
Liver |
Paclitaxel/ Doxorubicin |
Hindered tumour growth and prolonged survival of mice |
[148] |
|
Melanoma/Colon |
ATPμ-Raf mutant gene |
Sustained tumour regression through cell apoptosis activation |
[149] |
Micelles |
Connective tissue |
Doxorubicin |
30 fold increase of cellular uptake was observed |
[150] |
Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) |
Liposomes |
Lung |
No drug |
73.1 % localization seen within 30 min with only 30.3% seen with nontargeted NPs |
[151] |
Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone |
Iron oxide |
Breast |
No drug |
NPs were detected specifically in the cytosol of primary and metastatic tumours, whereas unconjugated NPs gathered in the liver |
[152] |
Sigma receptor |
Liposomes |
Lung |
Survivin siRNA |
Targeted NP enhanced delivery, downregulated survivn expression, induced cell cytotoxicity, apoptosis and chemosensitized cells to cisplatin. In vivo targeted NPs localized to specific tumour sites |
[137] |
Liposomes |
Prostate |
Doxorubucin |
Increased accumulation, inhibited tumour growth and reduced systemic toxicity usually caused by the free drug |
[153] |