title: A review of current nanoparticle and targeting moieties for the delivery of cancer therapeutics.
abstract: The tumor microenvironment provides unique challenges for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents in doses that are effective while ensuring minimal systemic toxicity. The primary limitation of current therapeutics is a lack of specificity in delivery, as they target healthy and cancerous cells alike. The development of nanoscale carriers capable of delivering cancer therapies has the potential to overcome both systemic and tumor barriers and provide specific, targeted delivery. This review seeks to provide an overview of available nanoscale drug carriers by exploring the wide variety of developed nanostructures and the most commonly used moieties for targeted delivery. Additionally, the use of nanoscale carriers will be motivated by examining tumor physiology and the specific barriers present within both the tumor microenvironment and systemic delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Steichen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caldorera-Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0800, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, C0400, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: peppas@che.utexas.edu.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Peppas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations