Nanoemulsion Formulations in Targeted Delivery of Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract

The prime concern in the treatment of cancers is the delivery of therapeutic agents to the targeted tumor sites. High lipophilicity, low bioavailability, and non-specific toxicity of drugs have raised major challenges in the treatment of cancer. Nanoemulsions are the heterogeneous system of particles that have proven their credibility in the field of nanotechnology. Due to the presence of a hydrophobic core, small size, and high stability, oil-in-water nanoemulsions have the potential to revolutionize conventional cancer therapy. The remarkable properties of nanoemulsions including encapsulation of poorly soluble drugs, acquisition of specific toxicity to targeted tumor cells, and overcoming multidrug resistance (MDR) have proven beneficial in the treatment of different types of cancers. Currently, various nanoemulsion formulations are under experimentations and trials for testing their efficiency and safety in the clinical treatment of cancers. The chapter aims to describe current applications of nanoemulsions in the targeted delivery of anti-cancer therapeutics.