Drug Delivery to the Liver Using Nanocarriers: Current Trends andFuture Perspectives

Introduction: Liver disease is a major cause of death globally, contributing to about 2 million deaths every year. Challenges in drug delivery include nonspecific distribution, poor absorption, and cytotoxicity in normal tissues, which in some cases lead to the failure of conventional therapies like medication and surgery. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review of the design, mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy, and challenges associated with nanomaterials in the treatment of liver diseases. It also highlights areas of future research to improve translation. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted on various nanomaterial platforms such as metallic nanoparticles, ceramic nanostructures, micelles, polysaccharides, liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, and multifunctional nanoparticles used in hepatic drug delivery. Preclinical studies and mechanistic studies were reviewed to understand the interactions that are unique to the liver and treatment outcomes. Results: The unique anatomical and physiological properties of the liver are utilized by nanotechnology to offer a personalized and effective treatment of liver disease. By modifying the surface of nanomaterials to make it more amenable to interaction with liver receptors and cellular components, functionalized nanomaterials increase their specificity Discussion: The reduction of systemic toxicity is achieved through targeted delivery and improves therapeutic efficiency. Unwanted protein adsorption, immunogenicity, potential toxicity, and instability of nanoparticles remain significant challenges, however. Conclusion: Nanomedicine holds immense promise for improving medication delivery and targeting in the management of liver disease. There are, however, significant hurdles to be cleared in terms of stability, safety, and biocompatibility before these technologies can be applied in the clinical setting. To ensure safe and effective application in hepatology, further research is required.