Drug targeting specific cells/tissues of the body without their becoming a
part of the systemic circulation is a prominent area of research in drug delivery, with
the main emphasis on improvement in formulation and development. Drug-targeting
can improve the viability, lower/minimize the adverse/side effects, and can become
cost-effective. Certain limitations like short circulating half-life, bioavailability issues,
rapid metabolism and degradation, poor tissue distribution and penetration in the
blood-brain barrier, intestinal absorption barriers, etc., are associated with the delivery
of various therapeutic agents. Nanocarriers have arisen in the field of drug targeting
with valuable delivery of drugs to site-specific/desired areas which is a significant
therapeutic advantage since it keeps drugs from being conveyed to some unacceptable
spots. Nanocarriers prevent the obstacles in clinical utilization of the therapeutic agents
as they decrease the serious and critical side/adverse effects by targeted drug delivery
and provide slow and sustained drug release. Nanocarriers bring new trust to drug
targeting by upgrading the efficacy, defeating resistance, and minimizing toxicity. This
chapter mainly focuses on the role and benefits of nanocarriers in drug-targeting and
nanocarriers as prominent systems for targeting and delivering drugs to achieve
maximum effects with improved therapeutic response.
Keywords: Bioavailability, Blood-brain barrier, Drug delivery, Drug efficacy, Drug resistance, Drug targeting, Half-life, Intestinal barrier, Metabolic degradation, Nanocarriers, Site of action, Site-specific targets, Sustained release, Targeted drug delivery, Tissue distribution.
