Receptor-targeted drug delivery: current perspective and challenges.
Receptor-targeted drug delivery has been extensively explored for active targeting. However, the scarce clinical applications of such delivery systems highlight the implicit hurdles in development of such systems. These hurdles begin with lack of knowledge of differential expression of receptors, their accessibility and identification of newer receptors. Similarly, ligand-specific challenges range from proper choice of ligand and conjugation chemistry, to release of drug/delivery system from ligand. Finally, nanocarrier systems, which offer improved loading, biocompatibility and reduced premature degradation, also face multiple challenges. This review focuses on understanding these challenges, and means to overcome such challenges to develop efficient, targeted drug-delivery systems.
Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Technology & Engineering, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390001, Gujarat, India.
Imran
I
Vhora
Sushilkumar
S
Patil
Priyanka
P
Bhatt
Ravi
R
Gandhi
Dipesh
D
Baradia
Ambikanandan
A
Misra
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004304:Dosage Forms; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*
D004304:Dosage Forms; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008024:Ligands; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface