Nanomedicine is an increasing science area concerned with the development and fabrication of nanometer-scale structures for improved cancer care, detection, and imaging. Most cancer treatment options available in the clinic currently limit their usages with limited solubility and off-target side effects. Nanomaterials improve the bioavailability, solubility, selective organ distribution, and therapeutic effect of several biomolecules. Gene therapy using free nucleic acids can deal with vital candidate genes of cancer. However, their effect is delayed due to poor cell uptake and instability in circulation. Recently, Short interfering RNA (siRNA), highly capable of knockdown of specific genes, has emerged as a promising molecular therapeutic tool in targeted cancer treatment. Using liposomes, polymers, and dendrimers nanoparticles to deliver cancer drugs and siRNAs have been successful in recent preclinical studies. However, improving the tumor specificity of therapeutic cargo remains a major challenge. Therefore, the development of a novel tumor-targeted drug/gene delivery platform is urgently needed. Numerous novel drug delivery devices for siRNA distribution were being created to address the main challenges preventing siRNA's therapeutic potential. In the present review, we summarise the recent advancements in the nano-based drug delivery systems for siRNA delivery. Additionally, the innovative nanomedicines used for cancer therapy would be addressed. This study comprises a vast variety of siRNA drug delivery systems established in vitro and in vivo for improved intracellular delivery and selective gene regulation and addresses their features and possibilities for functional siRNA medical applications.

Nanocarriers, RNAi, miRNA, siRNA, Gene delivery, Gene silencing