Recent Advances in Subcellular Targeted Cancer Therapy Based on Functional Materials

Area of Science:

• Nanomedicine
• Cancer Therapy
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Subcellular structures are increasingly targeted in cancer therapy.
• Diverse functional materials are being developed for this purpose.
• Existing therapies include chemotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and hyperthermal therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review emerging therapies targeting subcellular organelles for cancer treatment.
• To highlight the integration of materials, ligands, and methods for specific applications.
• To discuss the potential of multifunctional nanostructures for combined therapeutic effects.

Main Methods:

• Review of chemotherapy, gene therapy, PDT, and hyperthermal therapy.
• Inclusion of non-drug-loaded nanoformulations (metal nanoparticles, molecular self-assemblies).
• Strategies for integrating materials and ligands for targeted delivery.

Main Results:

• Functional materials targeting subcellular structures show promise in cancer therapy.
• Nanoformulations can induce cell death by influencing subcellular functions.
• Combination therapies using multifunctional nanostructures aim for superadditive effects.

Conclusions:

• Targeting subcellular organelles offers a promising avenue for cancer treatment.
• Multifunctional nanostructures can enhance therapeutic efficacy through combined approaches.
• Further re-evaluation is needed for this emerging field of cancer therapy.