Targeted Drug Delivery Systems: Advances and Challenges in Medicinal Chemistry

Abstract

The concept of targeted drug delivery systems (TDDS) is one of the greatest inventions in the field of medicinal chemistry allowing the selective drug delivery to diseased tissues avoiding potential systemic toxicity and improving the therapeutic efficacy. This review article gives a thorough presentation of the fundamentals, recent developments and human clinical application of TDDS with an accent on liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), ligand-based drug delivery systems and novel smart nanocarriers. Human clinical data shows that such innovative delivery systems enhance pharmacokinetics of the drugs, their bioavailability, release from carrier and overall therapeutic effect in several diseases, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and infectious diseases. The review presents the advantages and disadvantages of modern TDDS technology and the major obstacles in the field, including biological barriers, safety issues, manufacturing complications, regulations and clinical translation of these technologies. The increasing use of artificial intelligence, precision medicine, gene and RNA therapeutics and biomarker-based drug delivery is highlighted. Therefore, TDDS are promising therapeutic systems improving medicinal chemistry through safer and more effective and personalized treatment of diseases.