Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs - Advanced Pharmacology

In this review of Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs the focus is on specialists seeking a rigorous account of targeted delivery approaches rather than a general textbook. The proceedings capture discussions from the 2nd NATO Advanced Studies Institute and are best for researchers who need historical context and technical perspectives on carrier systems. The single biggest reason to consider this volume is its detailed treatment of methods that optimize drug action through selective delivery to cellular and subcellular sites, making it a useful reference for experimental design and literature review.

Key Features

• Proceedings-based content: Presents curated papers and discussions from a NATO ASI, which gives readers a snapshot of contemporary research directions at the time of the meeting.
• Focus on targeted delivery: Emphasizes strategies to deliver drugs, enzymes, hormones and genetic material selectively to relevant cellular and subcellular sites, aiding readers who design carrier systems.
• Diverse carrier systems reviewed: Covers a wide assortment of carriers, enabling comparative insight into advantages and limitations of different delivery platforms.
• Problem-oriented framing: Addresses common obstacles such as toxicity, premature drug inactivation, and inefficient target interaction, helping readers anticipate practical challenges.
• Historical continuity: Builds on earlier NATO ASI work and situates the material in an evolving pharmacological context, useful for scholars tracing methodological development.

Who It's For

Researchers in pharmacology, biochemistry and biological sciences who require a proceedings-style reference will find value in this volume, especially those interested in the conceptual and experimental foundations of targeted drug delivery. It is also relevant for graduate students preparing literature reviews or proposals that reference historical advances in carrier-mediated targeting.

It is not an introductory text for novices seeking step-by-step protocols or a modern review of clinical applications; readers needing current clinical guidance or up-to-date molecular techniques should consult recent reviews or practical manuals instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Provides a focused collection of expert contributions from a NATO ASI, offering depth on receptor-mediated targeting concepts.
• Discusses a wide assortment of carrier systems, which helps compare different strategies for selective delivery.
• Highlights practical problems like toxicity and premature inactivation, making the content practically relevant for experimental planning.

Cons

• As proceedings, the material reflects the time of the conference and may lack the latest methodological updates or clinical data.

Specifications

Title	Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs: (Closed)) (NATO Science Series A:)
Editor / Author	G. Gregoriadis
Format	Proceedings of the 2nd NATO Advanced Studies Institute
Scope	Targeting of drugs, carriers, receptor-mediated delivery
Topics covered	Drugs, enzymes, hormones, antigens, genetic material delivery
Relation to prior work	Builds on 1st NATO ASI proceedings published in 1982

Our Verdict

Receptor-Mediated Targeting of Drugs is a worthwhile reference for scientists and advanced students who need a proceedings-based account of carrier-mediated delivery concepts and historical perspective. Its value lies in curated expert discussion of strategies to reduce toxicity and improve target interaction, though readers seeking recent clinical developments should supplement it with newer literature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a textbook or a collection of conference papers?
This volume is a collection of proceedings from the 2nd NATO ASI, so it reads as curated conference papers rather than a structured textbook.

Does it cover practical delivery protocols?
It focuses on conceptual and experimental discussions of carrier systems; detailed step-by-step protocols are not the main emphasis.

Who edited the work?
The book is associated with G. Gregoriadis and builds on earlier NATO ASI work edited by Gregoriadis and colleagues.