Recent advances in nano/micro systems for improved circulation stability, enhanced tumor targeting, penetration, and intracellular drug delivery: a review

Abstract

In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively developed as drug carriers to overcome the limitations of cancer therapeutics. However, there are several challenges to nanomedicines, which include the lack of stability in circulation, limited target specificity, low penetration into tumors and insufficient cellular uptake, restricting the active targeting toward tumors of nanomedicines. To address these challenges, a variety of promising strategies were developed recently, as they can be designed to improve NP accumulation and penetration in tumor tissues, circulation stability, tumor targeting, and intracellular uptake. In this Review, we summarized nanomaterials developed in recent three years that could be utilized to improve drug delivery for cancer treatments.