Liposomal Tumor Targeting in Drug Delivery Utilizing MMP-2- and MMP-9-Binding Ligands.

Nanotechnology offers an alternative to conventional treatment options by enabling different drug delivery and controlled-release delivery strategies. Liposomes being especially biodegradable and in most cases essentially nontoxic offer a versatile platform for several different delivery approaches that can potentially enhance the delivery and targeting of therapies to tumors. Liposomes penetrate tumors spontaneously as a result of fenestrated blood vessels within tumors, leading to known enhanced permeability and subsequent drug retention effects.

Radiolabeled compounds in the development of cytotoxic agents.

With the help of radiolabeled compounds, drug development can be made faster; especially with microdosing and radiopharmacokinetics, some elements of phase I and II trials necessary for conventional cancer drug development can be avoided. Imaging may proof the principle of actual targeting. However, radiopharmacokinetics is dependent on the radionuclide, the radionuclide linker with the drug and the size of the drug molecule.