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Published on: March 25, 2019
Nanomaterials for oncotherapies targeting the hallmarks of cancer
Xiaofeng Dai1, Lihui Yu2, Xijiang Zhao3
1The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
An increasing amount of evidence has demonstrated the diverse functionalities of nanomaterials in oncotherapies such as drug delivery, imaging, and killing cancer cells. This review aims to offer an authoritative guide for the development of nanomaterial-based oncotherapies and shed light on emerging yet understudied hallmarks of cancer where nanoparticles can help improve cancer control. With this aim, three nanomaterials, i.e. those based on gold, graphene, and liposome, were selected to represent and encompass metal inorganic, nonmetal inorganic, and organic nanomaterials, and four oncotherapies, i.e. phototherapies, immunotherapies, cancer stem cell therapies, and metabolic therapies, were characterized based on the differential hallmarks of cancer that they target. We also view physical plasma as a cocktail of reactive species and carrier of nanomaterials and focus on its roles in targeting the hallmarks of cancer provided with its unique traits and ability to selectively induce epigenetic and genetic modulations in cancer cells that halt tumor initiation and progression. This review provides a clear understanding of how the physico-chemical features of particles at the nanoscale contribute alone or create synergistic effects with current treatment modalities in combating each of the hallmarks of cancer that ultimately leads to desired therapeutic outcomes and shapes the toolbox for cancer control.
Insights
This review explores nanomaterials for cancer therapy, focusing on gold, graphene, and liposomes. It highlights their use in phototherapy, immunotherapy, and targeting cancer stem cells to improve cancer control.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Nanomaterials offer diverse functionalities in oncotherapies, including drug delivery, imaging, and direct cancer cell killing.
- Emerging cancer hallmarks present new targets for nanoparticle-based interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a guide for developing nanomaterial-based oncotherapies.
- To explore nanoparticle applications in understudied cancer hallmarks.
- To elucidate the role of physical plasma in conjunction with nanomaterials for cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on gold, graphene, and liposome-based nanomaterials.
- Characterization of phototherapies, immunotherapies, cancer stem cell therapies, and metabolic therapies.
- Analysis of physical plasma's role as a nanomaterial carrier and its epigenetic/genetic modulation effects.
Main Results:
- Nanomaterials demonstrate significant potential in enhancing various cancer treatment modalities.
- Synergistic effects between nanomaterials and existing therapies can improve therapeutic outcomes.
- Physical plasma, combined with nanomaterials, shows promise in halting tumor initiation and progression through epigenetic and genetic modulation.
Conclusions:
- The physico-chemical properties of nanomaterials are crucial for combating cancer hallmarks.
- Nanoparticle-based strategies offer a versatile toolbox for advanced cancer control.
- Integrating nanomaterials with physical plasma presents a novel approach to oncotherapy.
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