Smart Drug Delivery Systems - Futuristic Window in Cancer Therapy

Chemotherapeutic strategies are fundamental for treating diseases like cancer, which metastasizes rapidly to healthy tissues. However, these drugs, being nonspecific, may harm both the diseased as well as the healthy tissues. Rapid clearance, low uptake, and uneven distribution of the payloads at target sites result in poor biodistribution. To address the emerging challenges of off-target accumula...

Chemotherapeutic strategies are fundamental for treating diseases like cancer, which metastasizes rapidly to healthy tissues. However, these drugs, being nonspecific, may harm both the diseased as well as the healthy tissues. Rapid clearance, low uptake, and uneven distribution of the payloads at target sites result in poor biodistribution. To address the emerging challenges of off-target accumulation and patient noncompliance, it is crucial to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to target sites, release the loaded cargo efficiently, and remove the chemotherapeutic agents from the system without triggering an immune response. The advent of smart targeting methods has revolutionized drug delivery systems (DDS). Stimuli-responsive smart DDS can release drugs in response to pH, light, redox, magnetic fields, and hyperthermia, marking the future of translational medicine. Exosomes and phytosomes are innovative drug delivery platforms that have brought about a paradigm shift in DDS. Theranostic agents, which combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions, represent a significant advancement in personalized medicine. These agents allow real-time assessment of drug biodistribution, release, and therapeutic outcomes. Theranostic probes, particularly nanoparticles with drug carrier and imaging capabilities, have transformed cancer therapy by enabling precise imaging at tumor sites. This book explores drug delivery strategies for therapeutic products including vitamins, emphasizing the delivery of live cell therapies. It also highlights nanostructured systems tailored for smart drug delivery and theranostic medicines, showcasing promising advancements in this emerging field.