Galactosylated nanocarriers have recently emerged as viable and versatile tools to deliver drugs at an optimal rate specifically to their target tissues or cells, thus maximizing their therapeutic benefits while circumventing off-target effects. The abundance of lectin receptors on cell surfaces makes the galactosylated carriers suitable for the targeted delivery of bioactives. Additionally, tethering of galactose (GAL) to various carriers, including micelles, liposomes, and nanoparticles (NPs), might also be appropriate for drug delivery. Here, we review recent advances in the development of galactosylated nanocarriers for active tumor targeting. We also provide a brief overview of the targeting mechanisms and cell receptor theory involved in the ligand–receptor-mediated delivery of drug carriers.

半乳糖基化的纳米载体近来已成为可行且通用的工具，可以以最佳速率将药物特异性地特异性地递送至其靶组织或细胞，从而在规避脱靶效应的同时最大化其治疗益处。细胞表面上大量的凝集素受体使半乳糖基化的载体适合于靶向递送生物活性物质。另外，将半乳糖（GAL）束缚到各种载体上，包括胶束，脂质体和纳米颗粒（NP），也可能适用于药物递送。在这里，我们综述了半乳糖基化纳米载体用于肿瘤靶向治疗的最新进展。我们还简要介绍了配体-受体介导的药物载体递送所涉及的靶向机制和细胞受体理论。