Nano-based targeted drug delivery for lung cancer: therapeutic avenues and challenges

Most anticancer drugs often fail in clinical trials due to poor solubility, poor bioavailability, lack of targeted delivery and several off-target effects. Polymeric nanoparticles such as poly(lactide), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), ALB-loading paclitaxel (Abraxane (R) ABI-007), lomustine-loaded chitosan, gelatin (decorated with EGF receptor-targeted biotinylated EGF) and so on offer controlled and sustained drug release properties, biocompatibility and promising anticancer effects. EGF, folk acid, transferrin, sigma and urokinase plasminogen activator receptors-targeting nano preparations improve bioavailability and accumulate drugs on the lung tumor cell surface. However, route of administration, size, pharmacokinetic properties, immune clearance and so on hamper nanomedicines' clinical uses. This review focuses on the benefits, avenues and challenges of nanoparticle-based drug-delivery systems for lung cancer treatment. Plain language summary: Globally, 2 million people are dying annually due to lung cancer and it is the leading cause of death among men in 93 countries. Currently, lung cancer medicine does not reach tumor sites and induces several side effects. Therefore, lung cancer medicines are not effectively reducing lung cancer. One of the efficient ways of delivering anticancer drugs to improve targeted delivery is the conjugation of drugs with cancer cell surface-targeting moieties and encapsulation of unique nanocarriers/nanoparticles. Specific nanoencapsulated drugs selectively target EGF receptors, folic acid receptors, transferrin receptors, sigma receptors and urokinase plasminogen activator receptors on the lung cancer cell surface and deliver the anticancer drugs, leading to cancer regression.