Targeted drug delivery

Targeted drug delivery refers to a pharmaceutical strategy or technology designed to increase the concentration of medication at specific sites within the body while minimizing exposure elsewhere. This approach aims to improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects compared with conventional systemic administration. It often employs carriers such as nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, micelles, monoclonal antibodies, or other engineered vehicles that can be directed—either passively via physiological properties like enhanced permeability in tumors or actively via ligand-receptor interactions—to diseased tissues such as tumors or inflamed areas. Targeted drug delivery is especially important in cancer therapy but has applications across many diseases where localized treatment can offer significant benefits over systemic exposure. The field draws from nanotechnology and materials science as well as pharmacology and medicine. While it offers advantages like reduced toxicity and improved patient outcomes, challenges include high costs of development/production and technical complexity in ensuring precise targeting.

Other names

Smart drug deliveryTargeted release systemDrug targeting system

Not applicable; mechanisms depend on the specific carrier and drug used