Targeted Drug Delivery: Trends and Perspectives

Abstract

Background: Due to various limitations in conventional drug delivery system, it is important to focus on the target-specific drug delivery system where we can deliver the drug without any degradation. Among various challenges faced by a formulation scientist, delivering the drug to its right site, in its right dose, is also an important aim. A focused drug transport aims to extend, localize, target and have a safe drug interaction with the diseased tissue. Objective: The aim of targeted drug delivery is to make the required amount of the drug available at its desired site of action. Drug targeting can be accomplished in a number ways that include enzyme mediation, pH-dependent release, use of special vehicles, receptor targeting among other mechanisms. Intelligently designed targeted drug delivery systems also offer the advantages of a low dose of the drug along with reduced side effects which ultimately improves patient compliance. Incidences of dose dumping and dosage form failure are negligible. A focused drug transport aims to have a safe drug interaction with the diseased tissue. Conclusion: This review focuses on the available targeting techniques for delivery to the colon, brain and other sites of interest. Overall, the article should make an excellent read for the researchers in this area. Newer drug targets may be identified and exploited for successful drug targeting.

Nanoformulation of Tetrapyrroles Derivatives in Photodynamic Therapy: A Focus on Bacteriochlorin

“…Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholin (DPPC) liposomes were used to formulate zinc phthalocyanine for the enhancement of ROS quantum yield in the PDT against B16/F10 melanoma cells [34]. Hiraka et al synthesized a pH-sensitive smart liposome combining cationic and anionic lipids with Fe-porphyrin to demonstrate the efficient PDT against MKN28 cell lines [35]. F127 polymer-based liposomes, in combination with graphene quantum dots and Zn-porphyrin, showed a synergistic effect of quantum dots and porphyrin on the ROS generation along with enhanced cellular uptake and stimuliresponsive drug release [36][37][38].…”

Targeted drug delivery strategy: a bridge to the therapy of diabetic kidney disease

“…The indirect ways need a two-step strategy, just as the antibody-directed enzyme prodrug therapy or gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (Schellmann et al., 2010 ). Compared to the passive drug targeting, the active targeting can significantly increase the number of drugs that are delivered to the target cell (Ashique et al., 2021 ).…”

“…In this process, three important components are included as follows: first, the specific drug moiety; second, the drug delivery carrier; third, the targeted cells, tissues or organs to be treated. There are two types of mechanisms for carrier-targeted drug delivery systems: slowing down the rate of drug release, or releasing in large quantities at the target site by adjusting for changes in pH, heat, or light (Ashique et al., 2021 ). The carrier, with the properties of nontoxicity, biodegradability, diminished immunogenicity and easy detection, is used to encapsulate the drug molecules for delivery to the target organs, while enhancing the solubility, permeability and bioavailability of the drug molecules (Su et al., 2015 ).…”

5-Fluorouracil-Immobilized Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Arrays on an Electrospun Bilayer Membrane as a Drug Patch

“…It is an essential technology used to selectively deliver a drug according to the site of the disease or to release the drug periodically while controlling the released amount. However, the effectiveness of these systems is still not satisfactory for clinical applications [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Several studies have been conducted to create micro- or nanosized ultrafine structures, based on micro- and nanotechnologies, to deliver cancer-killing drugs to cancer cells [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”