AUTHOR=Ma Yuan , Yu Sifan , Ni Shuaijian , Zhang Baoxian , Kung Angela Chun Fai , Gao Jin , Lu Aiping , Zhang Ge 

TITLE=Targeting Strategies for Enhancing Paclitaxel Specificity in Chemotherapy

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2021.626910

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2021.626910

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=Paclitaxel (PTX) has been used for cancer treatment over decades, becoming one of the most successful chemotherapeutics in clinic and finance. However, serious problems still exist owing to the poor solubility and non-selective toxicity of PTX. In respect of these issues, recent advances have addressed the water solubility and tumor-specificity related to PTX application. There have been plenty of measures raised to remedy the limitations by enhancing tumor recognition via ligand-receptor mediated targeting as well as other associated strategies. In this review, we conducted various kinds of ligands emerged as PTX tumor-targeting tools. Especially, the article highlighted small molecules, proteins and aptamers functionalized conjugates and nanoparticles, providing a promising approach for PTX-based individualized treatment in the prospects.