Nanoparticle-Based Approaches for Targeted Drug- Delivery
Jasvir Kaur, Prabhat K. Singh
Nanotechnology, which harnesses the potential of nanosized objects, has ushered in a new era in therapeutic drug delivery. Among the pantheons of nanoscale tools, nanoparticles stand out because of their versatility and adaptability, making them especially promising for biomedical applications. These nanocarriers can be meticulously engineered by taking advantage of their modifiable attributes, such as size, shape, surface chemistry, and solubility. This allows them to deliver a diverse range of drugs to specific locations in the body with enhanced precision. One of the most significant advantages of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems is their ability to address the longstanding challenges posed by physiological barriers, most notably the blood-brain barrier. By navigating these barriers, nanoparticles present an unparalleled opportunity to treat complex diseases that were previously inaccessible. Their biocompatibility and stability further enhance their suitability for in vivo applications. Particularly in the field of oncology, these attributes offer transformative approaches to cancer therapy, ensuring that therapeutic agents reach the tumor sites effectively. This chapter provides an in-depth overview of nanoparticle-based drug delivery platforms, emphasizing their potential for reshaping targeted drug delivery, especially in the context of cancer treatment.
Keywords
Nanocarriers, Target Site Drug Delivery, Cancer, Nanoparticles, Quantum Dots
Published online 1/5/2026, 18 pages
Citation: Jasvir Kaur, Prabhat K. Singh, Nanoparticle-Based Approaches for Targeted Drug- Delivery, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 185, pp 55-72, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903858-3
Part of the book on Nanomaterials in Biological Systems
References
[1] R. Singh, J.W. Lillard, Nanoparticle-based targeted drug delivery, Experimental and Molecular Pathology. 86 (2009) 215–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexmp.2008.12.004
[2] Y. Yao, Y. Zhou, L. Liu, Y. Xu, Q. Chen, Y. Wang, S. Wu, Y. Deng, J. Zhang, A. Shao, Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy and Its Role in Overcoming Drug Resistance, Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences. 7 (2020). https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2020.00193 (accessed July 28, 2023).
[3] A. Rahikkala, V. Aseyev, H. Tenhu, E.I. Kauppinen, J. Raula, Thermoresponsive Nanoparticles of Self-Assembled Block Copolymers as Potential Carriers for Drug Delivery and Diagnostics, Biomacromolecules. 16 (2015) 2750–2756. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00690
[4] V. Chandrakala, V. Aruna, G. Angajala, Review on metal nanoparticles as nanocarriers: current challenges and perspectives in drug delivery systems, Emergent Mater. 5 (2022) 1593–1615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-021-00335-x
[5] M.J. Mitchell, M.M. Billingsley, R.M. Haley, M.E. Wechsler, N.A. Peppas, R. Langer, Engineering precision nanoparticles for drug delivery, Nat Rev Drug Discov. 20 (2021) 101–124. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41573-020-0090-8
[6] J.N. Cruz, S. Muzammil, A. Ashraf, M.U. Ijaz, M.H. Siddique, R. Abbas, M. Sadia, Saba, S. Hayat, R.R. Lima, A review on mycogenic metallic nanoparticles and their potential role as antioxidant, antibiofilm and quorum quenching agents, Heliyon. 10 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29500
[7] R. Liu, C. Luo, Z. Pang, J. Zhang, S. Ruan, M. Wu, L. Wang, T. Sun, N. Li, L. Han, J. Shi, Y. Huang, W. Guo, S. Peng, W. Zhou, H. Gao, Advances of nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for disease diagnosis and treatment, Chinese Chemical Letters. 34 (2023) 107518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2022.05.032
[8] J. Kaur, P.K. Singh, Nanomaterial based advancement in the inorganic pyrophosphate detection methods in the last decade: A review, TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 146 (2022) 116483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2021.116483
[9] J. Swarbrick, Encyclopedia of Pharmaceutical Technology: Volume 6, 3rd ed., CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1201/b19309
[10] H. Maeda, The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in tumor vasculature: the key role of tumor-selective macromolecular drug targeting, Adv Enzyme Regul. 41 (2001) 189–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0065-2571(00)00013-3
[11] X. Yu, I. Trase, M. Ren, K. Duval, X. Guo, Z. Chen, Design of Nanoparticle-Based Carriers for Targeted Drug Delivery, Journal of Nanomaterials. 2016 (2016) e1087250. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1087250
[12] J. Kreuter, P. Ramge, V. Petrov, S. Hamm, S.E. Gelperina, B. Engelhardt, R. Alyautdin, H. von Briesen, D.J. Begley, Direct evidence that polysorbate-80-coated poly(butylcyanoacrylate) nanoparticles deliver drugs to the CNS via specific mechanisms requiring prior binding of drug to the nanoparticles, Pharm Res. 20 (2003) 409–416. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022604120952
[13] D. Mp, L. V, W. E, L. Rj, A. Gl, The mechanism of uptake of biodegradable microparticles in Caco-2 cells is size dependent, Pharmaceutical Research. 14 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1012126301290
[14] H.M. Redhead, S.S. Davis, L. Illum, Drug delivery in poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles surface modified with poloxamer 407 and poloxamine 908: in vitro characterisation and in vivo evaluation, J Control Release. 70 (2001) 353–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-3659(00)00367-9
[15] M.H. Sarfraz, M. Zubair, B. Aslam, A. Ashraf, M.H. Siddique, S. Hayat, J.N. Cruz, S. Muzammil, M. Khurshid, M.F. Sarfraz, A. Hashem, T.M. Dawoud, G.D. Avila-Quezada, E.F. Abd_Allah, Comparative analysis of phyto-fabricated chitosan, copper oxide, and chitosan-based CuO nanoparticles: antibacterial potential against Acinetobacter baumannii isolates and anticancer activity against HepG2 cell lines, Front. Microbiol. 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1188743
[16] J. Panyam, M.M. Dali, S.K. Sahoo, W. Ma, S.S. Chakravarthi, G.L. Amidon, R.J. Levy, V. Labhasetwar, Polymer degradation and in vitro release of a model protein from poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nano- and microparticles, J Control Release. 92 (2003) 173–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-3659(03)00328-6
[17] M. Dunne, O.I. Corrigan, Z. Ramtoola, Influence of particle size and dissolution conditions on the degradation properties of polylactide-co-glycolide particles, Biomaterials. 21 (2000) 1659–1668. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9612(00)00040-5
[18] D. Bhadra, S. Bhadra, P. Jain, N.K. Jain, Pegnology: a review of PEG-ylated systems, Pharmazie. 57 (2002) 5–29.
[19] J.-C. Olivier, Drug transport to brain with targeted nanoparticles, NeuroRx. 2 (2005) 108–119. https://doi.org/10.1602/neurorx.2.1.108
[20] T. Govender, T. Riley, T. Ehtezazi, M.C. Garnett, S. Stolnik, L. Illum, S.S. Davis, Defining the drug incorporation properties of PLA–PEG nanoparticles, International Journal of Pharmaceutics. 199 (2000) 95–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-5173(00)00375-6
[21] S. Muzammil, J. Neves Cruz, R. Mumtaz, I. Rasul, S. Hayat, M.A. Khan, A.M. Khan, M.U. Ijaz, R.R. Lima, M. Zubair, Effects of Drying Temperature and Solvents on In Vitro Diabetic Wound Healing Potential of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts, Molecules. 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020710
[22] Y. Chen, R.K. McCulloch, B.N. Gray, Synthesis of albumin-dextran sulfate microspheres possessing favourable loading and release characteristics for the anticancer drug doxorubicin, Journal of Controlled Release. 31 (1994) 49–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-3659(94)90250-X
[23] A. Lamprecht, N. Ubrich, H. Yamamoto, U. Schäfer, H. Takeuchi, P. Maincent, Y. Kawashima, C.M. Lehr, Biodegradable nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 299 (2001) 775–781.
[24] SK Sahoo, T. Sawa, J. Fang, S. Tanaka, Y. Miyamoto, T. Akaike, H. Maeda, Pegylated zinc protoporphyrin: a water-soluble heme oxygenase inhibitor with tumor-targeting capacity, Bioconjug Chem. 13 (2002) 1031–1038. https://doi.org/10.1021/bc020010k
[25] L.A. Guzman, V. Labhasetwar, C. Song, Y. Jang, A.M. Lincoff, R. Levy, E.J. Topol, Local intraluminal infusion of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles. A novel approach for prolonged drug delivery after balloon angioplasty, circulation. 94 (1996) 1441–1448. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.94.6.1441
[26] R.S. Fisher, J. Ho, Potential new methods for antiepileptic drug delivery, CNS Drugs. 16 (2002) 579–593. https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200216090-00001
[27] N.R. Patel, A. Piroyan, S. Ganta, A.B. Morse, K.M. Candiloro, A.L. Solon, A.H. Nack, C.A. Galati, C. Bora, M.A. Maglaty, S.W. O’Brien, S. Litwin, B. Davis, D.C. Connolly, T.P. Coleman, In Vitro and In Vivo evaluation of a novel folate-targeted theranostic nanoemulsion of docetaxel for imaging and improved anticancer activity against ovarian cancers, Cancer Biology & Therapy. 19 (2018) 554–564. https://doi.org/10.1080/15384047.2017.1395118
[28] G. Li, S. Song, L. Guo, S. Ma, Self-assembly of thermo- and pH-responsive poly(acrylic acid)-b-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) micelles for drug delivery, Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry. 46 (2008) 5028–5035. https://doi.org/10.1002/pola.22831
[29] Lung Cancer Statistics | How Common is Lung Cancer?, (n.d.). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-cancer/about/key-statistics.html (accessed September 15, 2023).
[30] S.-W. Ha, D. Weiss, M.N. Weitzmann, G.R. Beck, Chapter 4 – Applications of silica-based nanomaterials in dental and skeletal biology, in: K. Subramani, W. Ahmed (Eds.), Nanobiomaterials in Clinical Dentistry (Second Edition), Elsevier, 2019: pp. 77–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815886-9.00004-8
[31] I.N. de F. Ramos, M.F. da Silva, J.M.S. Lopes, J.N. Cruz, F.S. Alves, J. de A.R. do Rego, M.L. da Costa, P.P. de Assumpção, D. do S. Barros Brasil, A.S. Khayat, Extraction, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Activity of Piperine in Its Isolated form and in Combination with Chemotherapeutics against Gastric Cancer, Molecules. 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145587
[32] K. David Wegner, N. Hildebrandt, Quantum dots: bright and versatile in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging biosensors, Chemical Society Reviews. 44 (2015) 4792–4834. https://doi.org/10.1039/C4CS00532E
[33] A. Sosnik, Chapter 1 – From the “Magic Bullet” to Advanced Nanomaterials for Active Targeting in Diagnostics and Therapeutics, in: B. Sarmento, J. das Neves (Eds.), Biomedical Applications of Functionalized Nanomaterials, Elsevier, 2018: pp. 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-50878-0.00001-X
[34] Y.-J. Gu, J. Cheng, C.W.-Y. Man, W.-T. Wong, S.H. Cheng, Gold-doxorubicin nanoconjugates for overcoming multidrug resistance, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine. 8 (2012) 204–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2011.06.005
[35] H. Tada, H. Higuchi, T.M. Wanatabe, N. Ohuchi, In vivo real-time tracking of single quantum dots conjugated with monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody in tumors of mice, Cancer Res. 67 (2007) 1138–1144. https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-1185
[36] R. Liu, Y. Lai, B. He, Y. Li, G. Wang, S. Chang, Z. Gu, Supramolecular nanoparticles generated by the self-assembly of polyrotaxanes for antitumor drug delivery, Int J Nanomedicine. 7 (2012) 5249–5258. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S33649
[37] L. Zhang, T. Su, B. He, Z. Gu, Self-assembly Polyrotaxanes Nanoparticles as Carriers for Anticancer Drug Methotrexate Delivery, Nano-Micro Lett. 6 (2014) 108–115. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03353774
[38] S. Svenson, D.A. Tomalia, Dendrimers in biomedical applications—reflections on the field, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 64 (2012) 102–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.030
[39] Y. Li, K. Xiao, J. Luo, W. Xiao, J.S. Lee, A.M. Gonik, J. Kato, T.A. Dong, K.S. Lam, Well-defined, reversible disulfide cross-linked micelles for on-demand paclitaxel delivery, Biomaterials. 32 (2011) 6633–6645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.05.050
[40] AK Patri, A. Myc, J. Beals, T.P. Thomas, N.H. Bander, J.R. Baker, Synthesis and in vitro testing of J591 antibody-dendrimer conjugates for targeted prostate cancer therapy, Bioconjug Chem. 15 (2004) 1174–1181. https://doi.org/10.1021/bc0499127
[41] A.C. Estrada, A.L. Daniel-da-Silva, T. Trindade, Photothermally enhanced drug release by κ-carrageenan hydrogels reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, RSC Adv. 3 (2013) 10828. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ra40662h
[42] H. Zhang, C. Chen, L. Hou, N. Jin, J. Shi, Z. Wang, Y. Liu, Q. Feng, Z. Zhang, Targeting and hyperthermia of doxorubicin by the delivery of single-walled carbon nanotubes to EC-109 cells, Journal of Drug Targeting. 21 (2013) 312–319. https://doi.org/10.3109/1061186X.2012.749880
[43] J.M. Ashcroft, D.A. Tsyboulski, K.B. Hartman, T.Y. Zakharian, J.W. Marks, R.B. Weisman, M.G. Rosenblum, L.J. Wilson, Fullerene (C60) immunoconjugates: interaction of water-soluble C60 derivatives with the murine anti-gp240 melanoma antibody, Chem. Commun. (2006) 3004. https://doi.org/10.1039/b601717g
[44] F.S. Alves, J.N. Cruz, I.N. de Farias Ramos, D.L. do Nascimento Brandão, R.N. Queiroz, G.V. da Silva, G.V. da Silva, M.F. Dolabela, M.L. da Costa, A.S. Khayat, J. de Arimatéia Rodrigues do Rego, D. do Socorro Barros Brasil, Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Effects of Extracts of Piper nigrum L. and Piperine, Separations. 10 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10010021
[45] S. Bisht, G. Feldmann, S. Soni, R. Ravi, C. Karikar, A. Maitra, A. Maitra, Polymeric nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin (“nanocurcumin” ): a novel strategy for human cancer therapy, J Nanobiotechnol. 5 (2007) 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-3155-5-3
[46] F. Ahmed, R.I. Pakunlu, G. Srinivas, A. Brannan, F. Bates, M.L. Klein, T. Minko, D.E. Discher, Shrinkage of a Rapidly Growing Tumor by Drug-Loaded Polymersomes: pH-Triggered Release through Copolymer Degradation, Mol. Pharmaceutics. 3 (2006) 340–350. https://doi.org/10.1021/mp050103u
