Abstract
Systemic drug delivery methods such as oral or parenteral administration of free drugs possess relatively low treatment efficiency and marked adverse side effects. The use of nanoparticles for drug delivery in most cases substantially enhances drug efficacy, improves pharmacokinetics and drug release and limits their side effects. However, further enhancement in drug efficacy and significant limitation of adverse side effects can be achieved by specific targeting of nanocarrier-based delivery systems especially in combination with local administration. The present review describes major advantages and limitations of organic and inorganic nanocarriers or living cell-based drug and nucleic acid delivery systems. Among these, different nanoparticles, supramolecular gels, therapeutic cells as living drug carriers etc. have emerged as a new frontier in modern medicine.