Systemic Targeting Systems-EPR Effect, Ligand Targeting Systems

There are different targeting systems including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, polymersomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles which have been evaluated for tumor targeting. These systems make use of various drug targeting strategies, viz., passive, active, and triggered targeting. The current chapter is divided into three parts: part one describes various drug targeting strategies which is followed by part two dedicated to understand the role of EPR effect in tumor targeting and important endogenous factors that can positively impact EPR effect in tumor tissue. The third part principally focuses on ligand targeting systems for the treatment of various malignancies, including breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. The ligand targeting systems discussed in this chapter are majorly based on the targeting ligands such as carbohydrates, proteins, antibodies, aptamers, and small molecules.