Abstract

Conventional chemotherapy is hindered by poor tumor specificity, systemic toxicity, and limited therapeutic efficacy, often leading to severe side effects and treatment resistance. These challenges have driven the development of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems that offer targeted, site-specific chemotherapy with improved safety profiles. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the various types of nanoparticles utilized in cancer drug delivery, including inorganic, organic, and hybrid systems, alongside key design strategies like targeting mechanisms, physicochemical optimization, surface functionalization, and controlled drug release. Case studies and preclinical applications in drug delivery and radiation sensitization are presented. A comparison with conventional chemotherapy highlights the enhanced safety profiles of nanotherapeutics. Finally, we discuss challenges and future directions, highlighting the potential of nanoparticles to revolutionize cancer treatment by improving efficacy and minimizing toxicity.