Chapter 7 - Enhancing therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs through targeting of functionalized niosomes

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health concern, causing mortalities and morbidities worldwide and standing among the leading causes of deaths around the world. Nanotechnology, with its diverse applications in various fields, represents immense potentials for improving cancer treatment through established nanodrug-delivery systems. Nanomedicine is offering a new avenue for nanoscale drug-delivery systems where the drug is encapsulated in nanometer-sized entities, enhancing its bioavailability. In addition, novel trends in nanomedicine that encompasses functionalization of these nanosystems with ligands so as to enhance targeted delivery and tailored release of the loaded drug have received immense research focus. Different nanosystems have been widely researched and used for cancer therapy where liposome anticancer formulations have resulted in a modest impact on patients’ survival. Some of the liposomal formulations are in clinical use for cancer therapy, while most of the other systems are in clinical trial phases. Nonionic surfactant–based vesicles, commonly known as niosomes, are synthetic amphiphile–based vesicles having potential applications in the field of drug delivery. These nanosystems have similar potential advantages to liposomes, being capable of accommodating both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs and controlling their release, thus serving as a versatile drug-delivery platform. Moreover, they are considered more economic and physicochemically stable alternatives to liposomes. In this chapter, the niosomal drug-delivery system is discussed in detail with respect to its potential for anticancer drug delivery.