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Strategies for drug targeting in pancreatic cancer
1University Institute of Pharma Sciences (UIPS), Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140113, India.
Background:
Pancreatic cancer is expected to replace lung cancer as the second greatest cause of cancer mortality by 2025. It has been a particularly the most lethal kind of cancer.
Objective:
Despite the new innovations, research, and improvements in drug design; there are many hurdles limiting their therapeutic applications such as intrinsic resistance to chemotherapeutics, inability to deliver a sufficient concentration of drug to the target site, lack of effectiveness of drug delivery systems. These are the major contributing factors to limit the treatment. So, the main objective is to overcome these types of problems by nanotechnology and ligand conjugation approach to achieve targeted drug delivery.
Method:
Nanotechnology has emerged as a major approach to develop cancer treatment. Regardless of the severity, there are several issues that restrict the therapeutic impact, including inadequate transport across biological barriers, limited cellular absorption, degradation, and faster clearance.
Result:
Targeted drug delivery may overcome these obstacles by binding a natural ligand to the surface of nanocarriers, which enhances the drug's capacity to release at the desired site and minimizes adverse effects.
Conclusion:
This study will investigate the possible outcomes of targeted therapeutic agent delivery in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, as well as the limitations and future prospects.
Insights
Targeted drug delivery using nanotechnology overcomes pancreatic cancer treatment challenges. Ligand-conjugated nanocarriers improve drug efficacy and minimize side effects for better patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Drug Delivery
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality, projected to become the second leading cause by 2025.
- It is recognized as a particularly lethal form of cancer with significant mortality rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address limitations in current pancreatic cancer treatments, including drug resistance and poor drug delivery.
- To explore the potential of nanotechnology and ligand conjugation for targeted drug delivery in pancreatic cancer.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing nanotechnology to develop advanced cancer treatment strategies.
- Employing ligand conjugation to nanocarriers for enhanced drug targeting and efficacy.
Main Results:
- Targeted drug delivery via ligand-conjugated nanocarriers enhances drug release at the tumor site.
- This approach minimizes systemic adverse effects and improves therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Nanotechnology-based targeted drug delivery shows promise for overcoming pancreatic cancer treatment hurdles.
- Further investigation into limitations and future prospects of this approach is warranted.
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