Nanoprecipitation-based nanomaterials and targeting strategies for cancer therapy

Nanoprecipitation has emerged as a simple yet versatile technique for generating nanoparticles (NPs) suited to cancer therapy. This method enables precise control over particle size, surface characteristics and stability while accommodating diverse materials such as polymers, lipids, proteins etc. Careful selection of solvents, stabilizers and mixing dynamics enables scalable production of nanocarriers that preserve sensitive therapeutic agents. This review highlights how nanoprecipitation improves the encapsulation and delivery of poorly soluble drugs, enhances tumour accumulation, and enables sustained or stimulus-triggered release. Nanocarriers prepared by this method exploit three principal strategies for tumour targeting. Passive targeting leverages the enhanced permeability and retention effect of tumour vasculature. Active targeting is achieved by functionalising NPs with molecules such as antibodies, peptides, or ligands, which bind to specific cell-surface receptors and promote receptor-mediated endocytosis. Stimuli-responsive approaches exploit tumour-specific cues, including “acidity, redox potential and enzyme activity” or external triggers such as light, ultrasound or magnetic fields to achieve spatiotemporally controlled drug release. By highlighting recent advances and case studies, this review illustrates how nanoprecipitation-based nanomaterials can improve penetration, accumulation and therapeutic efficacy, paving the way for more precise and effective cancer treatments.