Modulation of Drug Release in Anticancer Therapy: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Emerging Drug Delivery Platforms

Achieving precise control over anticancer drug release remains one of the key challenges in modern pharmaceutical development, as it directly determines therapeutic efficacy, systemic toxicity, and patient outcomes. This review critically evaluates recent advances in three major formulation strategies: polymeric solid dispersions, cyclodextrin-based inclusion complexes, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with a particular focus on their capacity to tailor anticancer drug release. Over the past decade, polymeric solid dispersions and cyclodextrin-based carriers have played a central role in improving the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble anticancer agents, while also enabling modified release profiles through rational formulation design. Increasing structural complexity, including ternary systems and supramolecular assemblies, reflects a shift toward more controllable delivery platforms. In recent years, MOFs have emerged as highly adaptable porous materials capable of supporting controlled and stimuli-responsive release. The integration of imaging agents, magnetic components, and photothermal functionalities has further enabled the design of multifunctional and theranostic platforms. Taken together, these technologies reflect a shift from conventional solubility enhancement toward structurally engineered systems designed to achieve predictable and controlled drug release. Continued advances in material design and formulation strategies are expected to further refine release kinetics and support the development of next-generation anticancer therapies aligned with the growing demand for precision medicine.