metallic nanocarriers for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs: advances and therapeutic potential

The increasing global incidence and mortality of cancer necessitate the development of more effective, targeted, and safe therapeutic strategies. conventional chemotherapy often suffers from poor solubility, systemic toxicity, and limited tumour selectivity, leading to suboptimal clinical outcomes. in recent years, metallic nanocarriers have emerged as promising platforms for anticancer drug delivery, offering enhanced drug loading, controlled release, and site-specific accumulation at tumour sites. this review provides a focused overview of the key metallic nanoparticles (mnps)—gold, silver, iron oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide—used as nanocarriers for anticancer agents. key aspects, including synthesis methods, surface modifications, drug-loading mechanisms, and tumour-targeting strategies, are discussed in detail. recent advancements in the design of stimuli-responsive and ligand-functionalized systems have been highlighted, along with their applications in photothermal therapy, magnetic hyperthermia, and imaging-guided delivery. special emphasis is placed on the dual role of metallic nanocarriers in therapy and diagnostics and their potential in combination therapy approaches. additionally, this article addresses challenges related to biocompatibility, toxicity, regulatory concerns, and clinical translation. by analysing trends from recent preclinical studies and ongoing clinical investigations, this review highlights the transformative potential of metallic nanocarriers in personalized cancer treatment and outlines key directions for future research.