anticancer drugs

triple-negative breast

cancer therapy

small interfering

targeted drug delivery

therapeutic agents

Journal of Controlled Release

Biological barriers hamper the efficient delivery of drugs and genes to targeted sites. Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) have the ability to rapidly internalize across biological membranes. CPP have been effective for delivery of various chemotherapeutic agents used to combat cancer. CPP can enhance delivery of drugs to a targeted site when combined with tumor targeting peptides. CPP can be linked with various cargos like nanoparticles, micelles and liposomes to deliver drugs and genes to the cancer cell. Here, we focus on CPP mediated delivery of drugs to the tumor sites, delivery of genes (siRNA,pDNA) and co-delivery of drugs and genes to combat drug resistance. • The emergence of drug resistance in tumors requires exploring new delivery systems with enhanced penetration ability. • Cell penetrating peptides have excellent ability to deliver chemotherapeutic agents across the BBB. • CPP in combination with tumor-targeting peptide deliver drugs precisely to the targeted tumor sites. • Modified CPP are suitable delivery vector for gene delivery to tumors with enhanced transfection efficiency. • CPP are promising tool for co-delivery of drugs and genes to combat drug resistant tumors.

Cell penetrating peptides: A versatile vector for co-delivery of drug and genes in cancer