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@article{192355,
        author = {Ashish Gupta and Antara Ghanta and Sant Kumar and Deepika Rathi and Ankit Sharma and Ashwani Kumar Kushwaha},
        title = {Emerging Nanocarrier Platforms for Targeted Oncology Therapy: A Critical Review of Clinical Translation and Future Prospects},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {9},
        pages = {955-978},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=192355},
        abstract = {The development of nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems has emerged as one of the most significant paradigm shifts in contemporary oncology therapeutics, offering a strategic response to the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological limitations inherent to conventional anticancer treatments. Targeted nanocarrier platforms are engineered to modulate drug biodistribution, prolong systemic circulation, enhance tumor-selective accumulation, and facilitate controlled intracellular drug release. By integrating principles of materials science, tumor pathophysiology, and molecular pharmacology, nanocarriers enable precision delivery of cytotoxic agents, biologics, and nucleic acid–based therapeutics, thereby redefining therapeutic index optimization in cancer care.
Over the past two decades, rapid advances in nanotechnology have yielded a diverse array of delivery platforms, including lipid-based vesicles, polymeric assemblies, inorganic and metallic nanoparticles, and biomimetic systems derived from cellular components. Several of these platforms have successfully transitioned from preclinical investigation to clinical evaluation, culminating in regulatory approval for select formulations. However, despite extensive experimental validation and technological sophistication, the clinical impact of targeted nanocarriers has been heterogeneous and, in many cases, modest. Discrepancies between preclinical efficacy and clinical outcomes have highlighted critical challenges related to tumor heterogeneity, immune-mediated clearance, delivery inefficiency, manufacturing reproducibility, and regulatory complexity.
This review provides a comprehensive and critical evaluation of emerging nanocarrier platforms for targeted oncology therapy, with particular emphasis on targeting strategies, clinical translation trajectories, and translational barriers. In addition, future prospects encompassing personalized nanomedicine, artificial intelligence–assisted nanocarrier design, and theranostic integration are examined. By synthesizing current evidence and identifying strategic gaps, this review aims to inform rational design principles and translational frameworks necessary for the next generation of clinically impactful nanomedicine.},
        keywords = {Nanocarrier-based drug delivery; Targeted oncology therapy; Tumor microenvironment; Lipid-based nanocarriers; Polymeric nanoparticles; Biomimetic nanomedicine; Clinical translation; Theranostic platforms; Precision oncology; EPR Effect; Theranostics},
        month = {February},
        }