The nanoparticle based drugs, mostly in liposomes, are already approved for clinical use or under clinical investigation. Many attempts are made to improve nanoparticles sizes, shapes and surface modifications that lead to prolongation of drug circulation in blood stream and targeting to cancer cells. Thus small molecules like polyethylene glycol and targeting ligands like folic acid, peptides, antibodies, aptamers and nucleic acids are bound on the surface of nanoparticles with the aim to increase specific cell uptake. Very promising are multifunctional nanoparticles that combine both diagnostic as well as delivery role together.

Central European Institute of Technology Brno University of Technology Czech Republic European Union

Institute of Chemistry Environmental Protection and Biotechnology Jan Dlugosz University of Czestochowa Poland European Union