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Surface modified multifunctional nanomedicines for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer
1Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Introduction:
To date, a growing number of advanced anticancer nanomedicines (e.g., Doxil(®), Lipoxal(®), DepoCyte(®)) have entered into different phases of clinical trials. However, most of these medicaments fail to differentiate between diseased and normal cells. They also do not have capability of real time monitoring of disease status trough on-demand imaging/sensing of target molecule(s). Multifunctional nanomedicines and theranostics can resolve such limitations, while formulation of these advanced seamless systems appear to involve various sophisticated process, exploiting several bioconjugations.
Methods:
Recent works upon multifunctional nanomedicines for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer have been systematically reviewed, focusing on surface modification and application of advanced nanobiomaterials.
Results:
Ultimate therapy of malignancies, as complex systems, demands implementation of seamless nanosystems (NSs) that can specifically target the cancerous cells and smartly deliver the anticancer agent(s) into the desired target site. Engineering of such NSs requires in-situ coordination of various technologies (e.g., synthesis, surface modification and bioconjugation) in order to achieve improved pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics outcomes.
Conclusion:
Seamless multimodal NSs have potential to simultaneously target and monitor the tumor cells through homing and imaging/sensing devices and deliver the therapeutic agents. However, to achieve superior pharmacokinetics with maximal efficacy and minimal side effects, these advanced NSs need to become much more intelligent to sense the disease condition and liberate therapeutics on demand.
Insights
Advanced nanomedicines offer targeted cancer therapy and monitoring. Future multifunctional nanomedicines (NSs) need to intelligently sense disease and release drugs on demand for improved outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Current anticancer nanomedicines lack specificity and real-time monitoring capabilities.
- Multifunctional nanomedicines and theranostics offer solutions to these limitations.
- Formulating these advanced systems involves complex bioconjugation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in multifunctional nanomedicines for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy.
- To focus on surface modification strategies and the use of advanced nanobiomaterials.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of recent literature on multifunctional nanomedicines.
- Focus on surface modification techniques.
- Analysis of advanced nanobiomaterials for cancer theranostics.
Main Results:
- Seamless nanosystems (NSs) are crucial for targeted cancer cell delivery and therapy.
- Engineering NSs requires integrating synthesis, surface modification, and bioconjugation.
- These integrated approaches aim to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles.
Conclusions:
- Seamless multimodal NSs can simultaneously target, monitor, and treat tumors.
- Advanced NSs require enhanced intelligence for disease sensing and on-demand drug release.
- This intelligence is key to maximizing efficacy and minimizing side effects in cancer therapy.
