Advances in nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release

Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems (nDDSs) hold unrivaled opportunities in enhancement of disease treatment due to their advantages of drug encapsulation, drug solubilization, increased drug stability and improved pharmacokinetic and biodistribution. nDDSs including lipid, polymeric, protein and inorganic nanovehicles can be guided by or respond to biological cues for precise treatment and management of disease. Equipment with tissue/cell-targeted ligands renders nanocarriers effective navigation in complex environments, while functionalization with stimuli-responsive moieties actualizes site-specific controlled release, both of which enhance drug delivery efficiency, potentiate therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. This article reviews recent strategies and ongoing advancements in nDDSs for targeted drug delivery and controlled drug release, exploring lesion-targeted nanomedicines through surface modification of small molecules, peptides, antibodies, carbohydrates or cell membranes and controlled-release nanocarriers responding to endogenous signals such as pH, redox condition, enzymes or using external triggers like light, temperature and magnetism. The perspective of future developments has also been discussed.