Targeting Moieties

Abstract

This chapter summarizes the exploitation of drug loaded nanocarrier conjugates with various targeting moieties for the delivery and targeting of drugs and describes the current status of and challenges in the field of nanocarrier-aided drug delivery and drug targeting. The discovery of targeting ligands and the development of ligand targeted therapy will help us to improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects. Unlike other forms of therapy, it will allow us to maintain quality of life for patients, while efficiently attacking diseased cells and indicates that ligands have a pivotal role especially in cancer cell targeting.

Keywords: Transferrin, LHRH, aptamer, polycefin, blood brain barrier, targeting moieties, folic acid, antibody, folate receptor, docetaxel, lectin, glycotargeting, endocytosis, direct lectin targeting, reverse lectin targeting, selectin, polyvalency, sialic acid peptides, liposomes.