Controlled and Targeted Drug Delivery Using Smart Nanovectors

Abstract

Review Controlled and Targeted Drug Delivery Using Smart Nanovectors Abou Bakr M. Salama 1,2, Yasmin Y. Salem 1,2, and Tamer M. A. Mohamed 1,3,4,5,6, * 1 Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY 40208, U.S.A. 2 Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt. 3 Envirome Institute, Centre for Cardiometabolic Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, KY 40208, U.S.A. 4 Department of Bioengineering, Speed School of Engineering, University of Louisville, KY 40208, U.S.A. 5 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville, KY 40208, U.S.A. 6 Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester M13 9PL, U.K. * Correspondence: tamer.mohamed@louisville.edu Received: 28 January 2023 Accepted: 23 February 2023 Published: 20 March 2023 Abstract: The conventional drug delivery systems have several limitations, such as the high frequency of administration, several off-target effects, and the need for tissue specificity. Recently, smart drug shuttles have emerged, and the nano applications provided a new opportunity for advancing the drug delivery system to become tissue targeted and decrease the frequency of administration. The recent development of nanovectors as drug carriers has gone through several steps of evolution that ended with the development of logic-embedded nanovectors. Here, we summarize the different types of nanovectors and their applications in various clinical situations, and finally, we spot the light on the future of this area of research.