Drug targeting strategies for liver cancer and other liver diseases

Abstract

Treatment of liver cancer and other diseases are a challenging task for the current researchers in the pharmaceutical field. There are some physiological barriers like RES uptake, opsonization and first-pass metabolism of therapeutics present that make drug therapy more complex. Generally, conventional cancer therapy approaches give low response rate or remain un-success due to multi drug resistance (MDR), high clearance rate, severe adverse effect due to unwanted drug distribution and inadequate concentration reached in cancer cells. Therefore it is a need to develop novel strategies which will target drug molecule specific to affected liver cells. In the current era of research and development, various approaches have been utilized to improve the drug delivery and drug targeting. The new targeting approaches are based on the use of targeting ligands which can conjugate with nanocarrier or with drug molecules. These conjugates systems are accumulate passively or actively. This review focus on some liver cancer cells specific targeting ligands such as manos6 phosphate, asialoglycoprotein, galactoside, lactobionic acid, PDGF, antibodies, aptamers, avimers which have been utilized to target cancer cell after conjugation with the therapeutic system. This review also describes the novel targeting approaches including latest targeting molecules and targeted drug delivery system used for the treatment of liver cancer.

Identification of the Potential Molecular Mechanisms Linking RUNX1 Activity with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, by Means of Systems Biology

“…In this regard, to analyze the potential use of RUNX1 as a therapeutic target of NAFLD should be thoroughly studied. For example, investigating liver targeting through liposomes or bile acids in liver cancer [ 39 ] could be possible future strategies to evaluate the role of RUNX1 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD.…”

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Targeted Therapeutics for Breast Cancer Management

“…Passive targeting only increases the local concentration of the drugs within the tumor tissues by the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) [36,37]. Active targeting can be achieved by surface modification of the nanocarriers with specific targeting ligands such as proteins, antibodies, peptides, and carbohydrates, which has the affinity to bind a specific-site on the liver cells and facilitates endocytotic uptake into the liver cells [4].…”

“…Liver diseases are one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide. Each year, 2 million deaths occur due to liver diseases [1] including liver fibrosis, hepatitis (A, B, and C), fatty liver, autoimmune hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2][3][4]. Liver tumors are frequent in occurrence and third in the most leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide [5].…”

Targeting Small GTPases and Their Prenylation in Diabetes Mellitus

“…For selective targeting to the liver, several delivery methods, including the ones that use surface markers, were developed for liver cancer cells 296 and proposed for liver fibrosis. 297 In the case of muscle cells and adipocytes, selective targeting is challenging because of their high representation in the body.…”