title: Trends on polymer- and lipid-based nanostructures for parenteral drug delivery to tumors.
abstract: The dawn of the state-of-the-art methods of cancer treatments, nano-based delivery systems, has dispensed with the mainstream chemotherapy for being inadequate in yielding productive results and the numerous reported side effects. The popularity of this complementary approach in the course of the last two decades has been primarily attributed to its capacity to elevate the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs as well as removing the impassable delivery barriers in solid tumors with the minimal damage to the normal tissues.
  
  
  
  The PubMed database was consulted to compile this review.
  
  
  
  A wide range of minuscule organic and inorganic nanomaterials, with dimensions not exceeding hundred nanometers, has led to hope for cancer therapy to flare-up once again due to possessing a number of exclusive traits for passive and active tumor targeting, some of which are EPR effect, high interstitial pressure of tumor, overexpressed receptors and angiogenesis. Although a limited number of liposomal and polymer-based therapeutic nanoparticles have gained applicability, a vast number of nanoparticles are still being trailed in order to be fully developed.
  
  
  
  This study provides an overview of the advantages/disadvantages of nanocarriers for cancer drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.|Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.|Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ajorlou
authors.affiliation: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Yarikhosroushahia@tbzmed.ac.ir.|Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshgah Street, Tabriz, P.O. Box 51664-14766, Iran. Yarikhosroushahia@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ahmad Yari
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Khosroushahi
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008823:Micelles; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008823:Micelles; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Active targeting; Cancer; Control release; Passive targeting; Sustain release