Gelatin Nanocarriers as Biocompatible Platforms for Targeted Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Innovative drug delivery systems are required to improve the therapeutic efficacy of cancer, which continues to be a global health challenge. Gelatin-based nanocarriers provide a prospective platform for targeted cancer therapy by utilizing their biocompatibility and stimuli-responsive properties, thereby addressing the limitations of conventional treatments.

This review provides an overview of gelatin nanoparticles for the effective delivery of anticancer drugs. Various search databases were utilized for literature investigation, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. All the studies from the year 2015 to 2025 were added, along with patents associated with the field.

In lung, breast, melanoma, and other miscellaneous malignancies, gelatin nanoparticles exhibit reduced systemic toxicity and improved drug targeting. When combined with therapies, such as ultrasound or photothermal treatment, studies have demonstrated enhanced cellular absorption, sustained drug release, and synergistic effects. The increasing interest in their diagnostic and therapeutic applications is reflected in patents.

The improved treatment outcomes are facilitated by the versatility of gelatin nanocarriers, which allows for the tailored release of drugs in response to tumor-specific stimuli. Nevertheless, clinical implementation is impeded by obstacles, such as scalable production, nanoparticle stability, and unpredictable drug release. To surmount these obstacles, there are emerging strategies, such as stimuli-responsive and size-transformable nanoparticles.

The precise delivery of drugs through gelatin-based nanosystems has the potential to revolutionise cancer therapy. To ensure their successful clinical application, it is essential to address current limitations through innovative engineering and integration with advanced therapeutic modalities.