Polymers, which have long-chain macromolecular structures  and numerous functional groups, play an important role in the controlled and safe delivery of drugs to target tissues in the body. The biocompatibility, biodegradability properties of polymers, and the ability to control the release rate of drugs have made them ideal candidates for drug delivery. The introduction of biocompatible and biodegradable polymer-based carrier systems not only increases the efficacy of therapeutic agents, but also significantly reduces their toxicity and undesirable pharmacological effects. This article analyzes in detail the types of polymer systems, their role, their application areas and importance in drug delivery. In particular, nanoparticles and smart polymer systems allow for improving the pharmacokinetics of drugs, overcoming biological barriers, and increasing the precision of treatment. Research in this field has been successful in the past few decades by ensuring the safe and effective delivery of bioactive substances for the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The article also reviewed the broad application prospects of polymer systems in the field of oncology and emphasized the widespread use of polymer-based systems for the targeted delivery of drugs in the treatment of serious diseases such as cancer.

doi.org/10.32737/0005-2531-2025-4-6-22