Active drug targeting of disease by nanoparticles functionalized with ligand to folate receptor.

Drug-loaded nanoparticles have shown great potential in the study of carriers for disease-targeting drug delivery. Drug-loaded nanoparticles are excellent in keeping the drug in the systemic circulation for a prolonged period of time, introducing targeting molecules to improve targeting efficiency and to reduce side effects. A general review on active drug targeting of cancerous diseases by nanoparticles functionalized with ligands to folate receptors is presented including the (1) materials and methods for nanoparticle preparation, (2) methods for drug encapsulation, (3) surface functionalization of the nanoparticle with ligand to folate receptors, and (4) in vitro and in vivo experiments.