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Delivering nanomedicine to solid tumors

Rakesh K Jain1, Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos

  • 1Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 100 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jain@steele.mgh.harvard.edu

Nature Reviews. Clinical Oncology
|September 15, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Nanoparticles show promise for cancer treatment, but tumor barriers hinder uniform delivery. Overcoming these physiological barriers is crucial for effective nanomedicine in patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Nanotechnology offers potential for cancer detection, prevention, and treatment.
  • The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is a key rationale for nanoparticle use in solid tumors.
  • However, uniform nanoparticle delivery to all tumor regions remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiological barriers limiting nanoparticle delivery to solid tumors.
  • To summarize strategies developed to overcome these delivery barriers.
  • To discuss design considerations for optimizing nanoparticle delivery to tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of nanotechnology in cancer therapy.
  • Analysis of physiological barriers in tumor microenvironments.
  • Summary of current strategies to enhance nanoparticle delivery.

Main Results:

  • Tumor vasculature and interstitial matrix present significant physiological barriers.
  • Heterogeneous distribution of therapeutics results from these barriers.
  • These barriers contribute to the modest survival benefit of current nanotherapeutics.

Conclusions:

  • Overcoming physiological barriers is essential for realizing the full potential of nanomedicine.
  • Strategic design of nanoparticles is critical for effective tumor targeting.
  • Future nanomedicine development must address delivery challenges for improved patient outcomes.

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