Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center analyze advanced nanoparticle platforms—liposomes, polymeric, and inorganic systems—for targeted drug delivery, enhanced tumor permeability, and stimuli-responsive release. Functionalized carriers achieve improved drug solubility, precise tumor accumulation, and combined imaging-therapy (theranostics). The review summarizes clinical progress, ongoing trials, and challenges such as biocompatibility barriers and regulatory gaps, outlining strategies to integrate nanomedicines into routine cancer treatment.

Key points

• Liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and inorganic carriers engineered for passive EPR and active targeting enhance drug solubility and tumor selectivity.
• Stimuli-responsive mechanisms and PEGylation strategies enable controlled release, prolonged circulation, and theranostic imaging–therapy integration.
• Clinical applications include FDA-approved Doxil, Abraxane, and Onivyde, with ongoing phase III trials but persistent biocompatibility and regulatory challenges.

Why it matters: Nanomedicine’s targeted nanocarriers promise to revolutionize oncological treatments by improving therapeutic indices and overcoming drug resistance barriers.