fig2

Figure 2. Nanocarrier-loaded surface-functionalized nanocarriers for pulmonary delivery in lung cancer. It describes that targeted nanocarriers have been administered through the pulmonary route. (A) Nanocarriers undergo through the mucus layer of human lungs. (B) In the mucus layer, different cells are present such as Type 1 alveolar cell, Type 2 alveolar cell, macrophage cell, Fibroblast, and Tumor cells. Drug nanocarriers attach to the tumor cells by the process of phagocytosis. (C) Nanocarriers dissolve with the tumor cells and penetrate the surfactant layer of mucus in a microenvironment. (D) Three types of nanocarriers are intended for drug delivery to tumor cells. (I) stimuli (pH, temperature) triggered intracellular delivery of drugs in tumor cells using passively targeted nanocarriers. (II) stimuli (pH, temperature) triggered intracellular delivery of drug in tumor cells using actively targeted nanocarriers (III) Cell surface targeted nanocarriers bind with the target receptors on tumor cells and release the drug upon stimuli such as a change in pH or generation of heat using NIR radiation.