Recent Advances in PLGA Nanoparticles for Targeted Anticancer Drug Delivery

Cancer remains one of the major global health challenges, and conventional treatment methods such as chemotherapy, despite their vital role, face significant limitations including drug toxicity, lack of targeted delivery, and drug resistance. In recent years, nanotechnology (particularly the use of biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)) has emerged as a promising approach to overcome these challenges. These nanoparticles exhibit high potential in enhancing the efficacy of anticancer therapies due to features such as biocompatibility, controlled drug release, surface modifiability, and active targeting capabilities. Surface modification of PLGA with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and the conjugation of specific ligands enhance the stability, circulation time, and specificity of these nanosystems in biological environments. Moreover, the incorporation of stimuli-responsive systems in combination with these nanoparticles significantly improves therapeutic precision. This review article discusses the structure, synthesis methods, surface modifications, targeting strategies, and preclinical applications of PLGA nanoparticles in anticancer drug delivery, providing a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in this field.

Keywords:

Cancer , Chemotherapy , PLGA nanoparticles , drug delivery , Nanotechnology