Chapter 4 - Emerging need of advanced drug delivery systems in cancer

Abstract

Cancer represents highly complex interplay between composite cellular pathways that synchronously express to manifest pathogenesis. In lieu of the emerging metabolic complexities and drug resistance, the contemporary anticancer drug delivery paradigm requires systemic upgradation to meet the imminent challenges in cancer therapy. A state-of-the-art anticancer drug delivery system must perform multiple functions including diagnosis, controlled release, optimal pharmacokinetics, biotolerance, and bioimaging, in addition to their customary cargo delivery functions. The advanced anticancer drug delivery systems utilize the physicochemical profile of morbid cancer cells including abnormal pH, temperature, and oxidative imbalance that function as stimuli to facilitate a sustained drug release. The anticancer drug delivery systems based on metallic nanoparticles possess ability to evade the cellular efflux pumps by the aggregation effect of the drug-loaded nanoparticles. This has been a major success in the current anticancer drug delivery regime. This chapter presents a succinct discussion on the need for advanced drug delivery systems in cancer and the success achieved so far.