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Strategies for using nanoprobes to perceive and treat cancer activity: a review
Byunghoon Kang1, Aastha Kukreja1, Daesub Song2
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Nanomedicine has seen a significant increase in research on stimuli-responsive activatable nanoprobes for tumor-specific delivery and diagnosis. The tumor microenvironment has particular characteristics that can be exploited to implement therapeutic strategies based on disparities between normal tissues and tumor tissues, including differences in pH, oxygenation, enzymatic expression, gene activation/inactivation, and vasculature. The nanocarriers of activatable nanoparticles maintain their structure while circulating in the body and, upon reaching the tumor site, are altered by unique tumoral stimuli, leading to the release of a drug or other agent. This review demonstrates the latest achievements in the use of internal stimuli-responsive, activatable nanoparticles with respect to unique design strategies and applications.
Insights
Stimuli-responsive nanoprobes offer targeted tumor delivery and diagnosis by exploiting unique tumor microenvironment characteristics. These activatable nanoparticles release drugs only at the tumor site, improving therapeutic strategies.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Nanomedicine research focuses on stimuli-responsive activatable nanoprobes for cancer.
- The tumor microenvironment presents unique characteristics exploitable for targeted therapies.
- Differences in pH, oxygenation, and enzyme expression between normal and tumor tissues are key targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest advancements in internal stimuli-responsive, activatable nanoparticles.
- To highlight unique design strategies for these nanoprobes.
- To discuss their applications in tumor-specific delivery and diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on stimuli-responsive nanomedicine.
- Analysis of nanoparticle design principles for tumor-specific activation.
- Categorization of applications based on tumor microenvironment triggers.
Main Results:
- Activatable nanoparticles remain stable in circulation and are triggered by tumor-specific stimuli.
- Design strategies leverage tumoral pH, enzyme activity, and other microenvironmental factors.
- These nanoprobes show promise for enhanced drug delivery and diagnostic accuracy in tumors.
Conclusions:
- Internal stimuli-responsive nanoprobes represent a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy and diagnostics.
- Exploiting the tumor microenvironment is crucial for effective nanomedicine design.
- Further research into design strategies and applications will optimize their clinical potential.
