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Cancer active targeting by nanoparticles: a comprehensive review of literature
Remon Bazak1, Mohamad Houri, Samar El Achy
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
Purpose:
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, and thus, the scientific community has but great efforts to improve cancer management. Among the major challenges in cancer management is development of agents that can be used for early diagnosis and effective therapy. Conventional cancer management frequently lacks accurate tools for detection of early tumors and has an associated risk of serious side effects of chemotherapeutics. The need to optimize therapeutic ratio as the difference with which a treatment affects cancer cells versus healthy tissues lead to idea that it is needful to have a treatment that could act a the "magic bullet"-recognize cancer cells only. Nanoparticle platforms offer a variety of potentially efficient solutions for development of targeted agents that can be exploited for cancer diagnosis and treatment. There are two ways by which targeting of nanoparticles can be achieved, namely passive and active targeting. Passive targeting allows for the efficient localization of nanoparticles within the tumor microenvironment. Active targeting facilitates the active uptake of nanoparticles by the tumor cells themselves.
Methods:
Relevant English electronic databases and scientifically published original articles and reviews were systematically searched for the purpose of this review.
Results:
In this report, we present a comprehensive review of literatures focusing on the active targeting of nanoparticles to cancer cells, including antibody and antibody fragment-based targeting, antigen-based targeting, aptamer-based targeting, as well as ligand-based targeting.
Conclusion:
To date, the optimum targeting strategy has not yet been announced, each has its own advantages and disadvantages even though a number of them have found their way for clinical application. Perhaps, a combination of strategies can be employed to improve the precision of drug delivery, paving the way for a more effective personalized therapy.
Insights
Nanoparticle-based cancer therapy offers targeted treatment options. Active targeting strategies, including antibody and aptamer-based approaches, aim to improve drug delivery and personalize cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, necessitating advancements in early diagnosis and treatment.
- Conventional cancer management faces challenges in early tumor detection and managing chemotherapeutic side effects.
- Optimizing the therapeutic ratio is crucial for effective cancer treatment, driving the need for cancer-specific agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review literature on active targeting of nanoparticles for cancer therapy.
- To explore various active targeting strategies for enhanced cancer cell uptake.
- To discuss the potential of nanoparticle platforms in improving cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of English electronic databases.
- Inclusion of original articles and review papers on nanoparticle targeting.
- Focus on literature detailing active targeting mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Comprehensive review of active targeting strategies for nanoparticles in cancer.
- Detailed examination of antibody, antigen, aptamer, and ligand-based targeting methods.
- Analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different targeting approaches.
Conclusions:
- No single optimum targeting strategy for nanoparticles has been identified.
- Current strategies offer distinct benefits and drawbacks, with some in clinical application.
- Combining targeting strategies may enhance drug delivery precision for personalized cancer therapy.
