Advances in nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release.
10.1016/S1875-5364(25)60861-2
- Author:
Yuqian WANG
1
;
Renqi HUANG
1
;
Shufan FENG
1
;
Ran MO
2
Author Information
1. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
2. State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China. Electronic address: rmo@cpu.edu.cn.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Controlled release;
Drug delivery;
Nanocarrier;
Stimuli responsiveness;
Tissue targeting
- MeSH:
Humans;
Drug Carriers/chemistry*;
Drug Delivery Systems/methods*;
Delayed-Action Preparations/chemistry*;
Nanoparticles/chemistry*;
Animals;
Drug Liberation;
Nanomedicine
- From:
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.)
2025;23(5):513-528
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (nDDSs) present significant opportunities for improving disease treatment, offering advantages in drug encapsulation, solubilization, stability enhancement, and optimized pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. nDDSs, comprising lipid, polymeric, protein, and inorganic nanovehicles, can be guided by or respond to biological cues for precise disease treatment and management. Equipping nanocarriers with tissue/cell-targeted ligands enables effective navigation in complex environments, while functionalization with stimuli-responsive moieties facilitates site-specific controlled release. These strategies enhance drug delivery efficiency, augment therapeutic efficacy, and reduce side effects. This article reviews recent strategies and ongoing advancements in nDDSs for targeted drug delivery and controlled release, examining lesion-targeted nanomedicines through surface modification with small molecules, peptides, antibodies, carbohydrates, or cell membranes, and controlled-release nanocarriers responding to endogenous signals such as pH, redox conditions, enzymes, or external triggers like light, temperature, and magnetism. The article also discusses perspectives on future developments.
