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Tumor Discovery Targeted drug delivery systems for the treatment of tumors

therapy. Surface modification or functionalization is The issue of drug resistance during chemotherapy
recommended to combat drug resistance in chemotherapy. has been addressed by Mussi et al., who developed a
Thus, augmented drug performance becomes apparent lipoidal carrier coloaded with docosahexaenoic acid and
at the delivery site. These novel systems are composed of doxorubicin to enhance the antitumor efficacy [109] . The
both solid and liquid lipids, offering increased capacity cellular uptake efficiency was evaluated in MCF-7 cells
for hydrophobic antineoplastic drug candidates. Their and MCF-7ADR cells, and the study was conducted
using a monolayer model. Higher drug encapsulation
unordered surface lends itself to straightforward
functionalization or modification with various and entrapment resulted in improved cellular uptake
functional moieties (stealthy polymers and ligands) to in MCF-7/ADR cells, signifying the circumvention of
enhance transfection efficiency at the tumor site. The P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux. Wang et al. designed NLCs
nanodimensional particles can readily transform into for the codelivery of doxorubicin and sorafenib (NLC/
[110]
aqueous solutions, resulting in improved pharmaceutical D-S) to effectively manage esophagus cancer . Sorafenib,
and pharmacokinetic properties, including enhanced a multi-kinase inhibitor, plays a crucial role in regulating
solubility, absorption, and bioavailability [105] . the tumor microenvironment, while doxorubicin is a
potent inducer of immunogenic cell death. The highly
Varshosaz et al. have developed a lipid-based spherical stable and biocompatible NLC/D-S system exhibited an
nanosystem (20–100 nm) containing efavirenz. This enhanced transfection and retention effect when evaluated
system shows great promise for oral administration due against drug-resistant esophageal cancer cells. Therefore,
to its high solubility, entrapment efficiency, and improved combined therapy using NLC/D-S holds promise as an
bioavailability [106] . Ex vivo investigations conducted on effective anticancer remedy, thanks to the significant roles
rat intestines revealed enhanced gut permeation of the of its component. Table 7 compiles several examples of
developed efavirenz NLCs when compared to the efavirenz NLCs and their significant importance in the mitigation of
suspension. This suggests that oral administration of various types of tumors.
efavirenz through NLCs could be a viable strategy.
(c) Nanoemulsion
NLCs have garnered significant attention in the
pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical sectors due to their A nanoemulsion represents a heterogeneous colloidal
ease of preparation, biocompatibility, high transfection dispersion system, consisting of nanoscaled droplets in
efficiency, scalability, and the potential for site-specific a stable phase. These systems possess a notable capacity
drug delivery through various administration routes [103] . for encapsulating poorly soluble drug candidates due to
Multidrug resistance is a prominent issue with antitumor their hydrophobic core. In the context of chemotherapy,
drugs (paclitaxel and doxorubicin), and NLCs offer a researchers have extensively explored ligand-functionalized
promising avenue for mitigation. In the formulation of nanoemulsions designed to target specific components
NLCs, monostearin and oleic acid were utilized as the of tumor cells, facilitating efficient internalization
solid and liquid lipid matrix, respectively, employing within these cells and, consequently, curbing further
the solvent diffusion method. Furthermore, drug- tumor proliferation [117] . For instance, folate- and
loaded NLCs were functionalized with a folate conjugate gadolinium-functionalized nanoemulsions of docetaxel
containing stearic acid to enhance sensitivity at the target were formulated using a high-shear micro-fluidization
site. Cytotoxicity and the impact on multidrug resistance technique, showcasing impressive efficacy in testing on a
were assessed for the modified NLCs in human breast human ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3/SKOV3TR). The
cancer (MCF-7) and ovarian cancer (SKOV3) cell lines. folate-targeted nanoemulsions (<150 nm) not only served
Both NLCs, respectively, loaded with paclitaxel and as a theranostic system, efficiently delivering docetaxel
doxorubicin, exhibited superior cytotoxicity against the through folate receptor-mediated endocytosis, but also
selected cancerous cell lines, with a remarkable reversal outperformed the clinically approved Magnevist® (an
activity of the loaded drugs [107] . Wang et al. also explored MRI contrast agent) in diagnosing the affected tumor site.
NLCs by coadministering paclitaxel and doxorubicin to Moreover, this system demonstrated thermodynamical
achieve a synergistic effect and site-specific delivery for stability and prolonged residence time within tumor cells
[118]
tumors without influencing normal cells [108] . They utilized while sparing surrounded healthy cells .
the melt emulsification technique for NLC formulation. Zheng et al. developed Vitamin E-decorated
In vitro cytotoxicity studies targeting non-small cell lung paclitaxel nanoemulsions for the treatment of human
carcinoma (NSCLC) and in vivo experiments using a mice ovarian cancers [119] . The nanoemulsion system exhibited
model (NCL-H460 cells) both exhibited enhanced tumor- a significantly higher level of antiproliferation action
targeting efficiency. compared to free drug administration of paclitaxel when

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2023) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/td.1356