Advances in Nanomaterials for Targeted Drug Delivery: Emerging Trends and Future Prospects in Nanodrug Development

Abstract: The development of targeted drug delivery systems has transformed modern medicine, offering novel approaches to improve the efficacy and safety of therapeutic agents. Nanomaterials, due to their unique physicochemical properties, have emerged as pivotal contributors to this transformation. This paper aimed to explore recent advance-ments in nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery, highlighting emerging trends and pro-spects in nanodrug development. Nanomaterials, including polymers, liposomes, metal-based nanoparticles, dendrimers, and carbon-based structures, possess high surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and biocompatibility, which enable precise drug delivery, en-hanced solubility, improved stability, and controlled release profiles. These characteristics allow for the targeting of specific tissues or cells, thereby maximizing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic side effects. The objective of this review was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of these nanomaterials in improving drug bioavailabil-ity, targeting specificity, and controlled release, with particular emphasis on their applica-tions in cancer therapy, antibiotic delivery, and gene therapy. This paper addresses critical challenges associated with the use of nanomaterials, including toxicity, potential immuno-genicity, regulatory hurdles, and the complexities involved in large-scale manufacturing and clinical translation. Strategies to overcome these barriers, such as surface modifica-tion, optimization of nanomaterial properties, and the development of multifunctional and smart nanocarriers, are discussed. The review concludes by emphasizing the potential of nanomaterials to revolutionize drug delivery systems, contributing to the development of more effective, personalized, and patient-friendly therapeutic options, thereby paving the way for next-generation treatments for a wide range of diseases.