Author: Neerman, M. F.

Source: Current Drug Targets, Volume 7, Number 2, February 2006 , pp. 229-235(7)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

The application of macromolecules as vehicles for anticancer drug delivery is a burgeoning field of interest. One of the hallmarks of using such systems, however, is that they must be capable of site-specific drug delivery. As such, augmenting the targeting of drug delivery systems to specified sites is paramount. To date, a number of synthetic strategies have been utilized to introduce targeting moieties to macromolecular drug delivery systems to enhance specific targeting. This scheme frequently involves the introduction of some type of biologically recognizable marker to the delivery system. Biological evaluations have substantiated the rationale that introducing targeting groups can significantly increase specificity. This concise review will attempt to encompass what strategies have been done to increase the specificity of macromolecular anticancer drug delivery systems along with their biological activities.

Keywords: Drug delivery; targeting; macromolecules; anticancer; folic acid; RGD; antibodies; hyaluronic acid

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945006775515473

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9073, USA.

Publication date: 2006-02-01

More about this publication?

• Current Drug Targets aims to cover the latest and most outstanding developments on the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of molecular drug targets e.g. disease specific proteins, receptors, enzymes, genes. Each issue of the journal will be devoted to a single timely topic, with series of in-depth reviews, written by leaders in the field, covering a range of current topics on drug targets. These issues will be organized and led by a guest editor who is a recognized expert in the overall topic. As the discovery, identification, characterisation and validation of novel human drug targets for drug discovery continues to grow; this journal will be essential reading for all pharmaceutical scientists involved in drug discovery and development.

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