Signaling pathways serve to communicate information about extracellular conditions into the cell, to both the nucleus and cytoplasmic processes to control cell responses. Genetic mutations in signaling network components are frequently associated with cancer and can result in cells acquiring an ability to divide and grow uncontrollably. Because signaling pathways play such a significant role in cancer initiation and advancement, their constituent proteins are attractive therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss how signaling pathway modeling can assist with identifying effective drugs for treating diseases, such as cancer. An achievement that would facilitate the use of such models is their ability to identify controlling biochemical parameters in signaling pathways, such as molecular abundances and chemical reaction rates, because this would help determine effective points of attack by therapeutics. We summarize the current state of understanding the sensitivity of phosphorylation cycles with and without sequestration. We also describe some basic properties of regulatory motifs including feedback and feedforward regulation. Although much recent work has focused on understanding the dynamics and particularly the sensitivity of signaling networks in eukaryotic systems, there is still an urgent need to build more scalable models of signaling networks that can appropriately represent their complexity across different cell types and tumors.

Despite preclinical success of nanomedicine for anticancer activity, the clinical success of the same has been very limited. This review evaluates and discusses the therapeutic potential and pitfalls of clinically undergoing and successful nanoformulations in treatment of globally prevalent cancers. Cancer is the second leading cause of disease-related deaths all over the world. Alongside the FDA approved indication, chemotherapeutic nanoformulations like Abraxane and Doxil are alternatively evaluated in other cancers providing positive results. The review gives an update on the nanoformulations, which are currently in phase I and phase II clinical trials and approved for the treatment of prevalent cancers. Emphasis on the immediate need for reforming the guidelines for nanoformulations allows significant advances in the field of cancer nano-therapy in the near future.

Drug and gene deliveries are crucial aspects in biomedical application as they stimulate biological response of the body to elicit a therapeutic effect. It is seen that drugs, their formulations and the route of administrations, play a vital role in enhancing therapeutic effect onto the desired cellular or intracellular target. But, conventional drug forms suffer from poor pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics profile. For this purpose, different nanosized dendrimer-based drug and gene delivery systems and the interactions between dendrimers and guest molecules have been reviewed. Dendrimers as drug and gene carriers enhance the systemic blood circulation time, biocompatibility, and reduce toxicity. While, on one hand, non-covalent interactions of dendrimer-drug (physical encapsulation) improves drug solubility, on the other hand, electrostatic interactions with charged molecule encourages endosomal escape. Covalent association through various physiologically labile bonds or cleavable linkers can achieve controlled release and targeted delivery of the therapeutic moiety. Dendrimers can act as versatile tools for delivery of nucleic acids, drugs, vaccines for different diseases via different administration routes.

Nanoparticles are crucial for developing patient-/target-specific drug delivery systems. In recent days, mathematical modeling and simulation plays an important role in optimization of various parameters like nanoparticle-based drug dose, dissolution of drug particles, and adverse reaction from the nanoparticles. With the help of modeling and simulation, we can determine or optimize the type, shape, and size of the nanoparticles to be utilized as potential drug delivery system and its influence on the targeted cells/tissues. The main purpose of this review article is to discuss the latest modeling and simulation tools available for developing patient-specific nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems. In our current study, we are reporting different mathematical models used for cancer drug delivery systems. It also reports several numerical methods, and simulations models are available for representing nano-drug-bio interactions within the biological systems. This review highlights the applications of mathematical modeling and simulation software for developing a rational nano-carrier design and selecting accurate biomaterials for in vivo model.