Optimizing Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review of Active and Passive Drug Delivery Strategies

Authors
Parastoo Tarighi 1
Mona Mousavi Esfahani 1
Ali Emamjomeh 1
Zohreh Mirjalili 2
Parastoo Mirzabeygi 3
1 Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
2 Department of Drug and Food Control, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
3 Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
10.61882/ibj.4960
Abstract
Nanocarriers as powerful tools for delivering drugs to tumors provide new strategies for cancer treatment. These delivery systems encompass a diverse variety of structures, including polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), liposomes, dendrimers, micelles, and inorganic NPs such as gold and silica. Each type exhibits distinct physicochemical advantages that contribute to stability, drug-loading capacity, and targeting efficacy. Engineered nanocarriers can be utilized for the active targeting of tumor-specific receptors or for passive targeting of tumors via the enhanced permeability (EPR) and retention effect, a characteristic of abnormal tumor vasculature. This targeting approach enables the precise delivery of the therapeutic agents at tumor sites, increasing drug efficacy while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues. The benefits of these strategies include reduced systemic adverse effects, improved bioavailability, and an optimized therapeutic index. This review examines both active and passive drug delivery systems, with a special focus on the characteristics of the EPR effect.
Keywords
Nanocarriers
Drug Delivery
Active targeting
Passive targeting
Iranian Biomedical Journal
Volume 29, Issue 4 - Serial Number 119
July and August 2025
Pages 173-188