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Designing Hypoxia-Responsive Nanotheranostic Agents for Tumor Imaging and Therapy
Huige Zhou1,2,3, Fenglan Qin1, Chunying Chen1,2,3
1CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), Beijing, 100190, China.
Abstract:
Hypoxia, a common feature of most solid tumors, plays an important role in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and invasion, leading to drug, radiation, and photodynamic therapy resistance, and resulting in a sharp reduction in the disease-free survival rate of tumor patients. The lack of sufficient blood supply to the interior regions of tumors hinders the delivery of traditional drugs and contrast agents, interfering with their accumulation in the hypoxic region, and preventing efficient theranostics. Thus, there is a need for the fabrication of novel tumor theranostic agents that overcome these obstacles. Reports, in recent years, of hypoxia-responsive nanomaterials may provide with such means. In this review, a comprehensive description of the physicochemical and biological characteristics of hypoxic tumor tissues is provided, the principles of designing the hypoxia-responsive tumor theranostic agents are discussed, and the recent research into hypoxia-triggered nanomaterials is examined. Additionally, other hypoxia-associated responsive strategies, the current limitations, and future prospects for hypoxia-responsive nanotheranostic agents in tumor treatment are discussed.
Insights
Hypoxia in solid tumors hinders treatment and drug delivery. This review explores novel hypoxia-responsive nanomaterials for improved tumor theranostics and patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Hypoxia is prevalent in solid tumors, driving proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance.
- Poor blood supply in tumors limits conventional drug and contrast agent delivery, impeding theranostics.
- There is a critical need for advanced theranostic agents to overcome these challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the characteristics of hypoxic tumor tissues.
- To discuss design principles for hypoxia-responsive theranostic agents.
- To examine recent advancements in hypoxia-triggered nanomaterials for tumor treatment.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of hypoxia-responsive nanomaterials.
- Analysis of physicochemical and biological properties of hypoxic tumors.
- Discussion of design strategies and recent research findings.
Main Results:
- Hypoxia-responsive nanomaterials offer a promising strategy to overcome limitations in tumor drug delivery and theranostics.
- Recent research highlights various hypoxia-triggered nanomaterials with potential therapeutic applications.
- Understanding tumor hypoxia is key to designing effective nanotheranostic agents.
Conclusions:
- Hypoxia-responsive nanotheranostics represent a significant advancement in overcoming tumor treatment resistance.
- Further research into hypoxia-associated responsive strategies is needed.
- Future prospects include improved tumor treatment and patient outcomes through advanced nanomedicine.
