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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Engineered strategies to enhance tumor penetration of drug-loaded nanoparticles
Mohammad Souri1, M Soltani2, Farshad Moradi Kashkooli1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, K. N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract:
Nanocarriers have been widely employed in preclinical studies and clinical trials for the delivery of anticancer drugs. The most important causes of failure in clinical translation of nanocarriers is their inefficient accumulation and penetration which arises from special characteristics of tumor microenvironment such as insufficient blood supply, dense extracellular matrix, and elevated interstitial fluid pressure. Various strategies such as engineering extracellular matrix, optimizing the physicochemical properties of nanocarriers have been proposed to increase the depth of tumor penetration; however, these strategies have not been very successful so far. Novel strategies such as transformable nanocarriers, transcellular transport of peptide-modified nanocarriers, and bio-inspired carriers have recently been emerged as an advanced generation of drug carriers. In this study, the latest developments of nanocarrier-based drug delivery to solid tumor are presented with their possible limitations. Then, the prospects of advanced drug delivery systems are discussed in detail.
Insights
Nanocarrier drug delivery faces challenges in solid tumors due to poor penetration. Advanced strategies like transformable and bio-inspired nanocarriers show promise for enhanced anticancer efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Nanocarriers are widely used for anticancer drug delivery in preclinical and clinical settings.
- Inefficient tumor accumulation and penetration are major hurdles in nanocarrier clinical translation.
- Tumor microenvironment characteristics like poor vascularization and dense matrix impede nanocarrier delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems for solid tumors.
- To discuss the limitations of current nanocarrier strategies.
- To explore the future prospects of advanced drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of nanocarrier applications in solid tumor drug delivery.
- Analysis of challenges related to tumor penetration and accumulation.
- Discussion of novel nanocarrier designs and their potential.
Main Results:
- Current strategies for enhancing nanocarrier tumor penetration have limited success.
- Novel nanocarrier approaches, including transformable, peptide-modified, and bio-inspired carriers, are emerging.
- These advanced carriers offer potential for improved drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming tumor microenvironment barriers is crucial for effective nanocarrier drug delivery.
- Advanced nanocarrier designs represent a promising frontier in cancer therapy.
- Further research into novel strategies is essential for successful clinical translation.
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