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Targeting interleukin-13 receptor α2 (IL-13Rα2) for glioblastoma therapy with surface functionalized nanocarriers
Ruijia Liang1, Cheng Wu2, Shiming Liu2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Hangzhou Medical College Affiliated Lin'an People's Hospital, The First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, Hangzhou, China.
Abstract:
Despite surgical and therapeutic advances, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is among the most fatal primary brain tumor that is aggressive in nature. Patients with GBM have a median lifespan of just 15 months when treated with the current standard of therapy, which includes surgical resection and concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. In recent years, nanotechnology has shown considerable promise in treating a variety of illnesses, and certain nanomaterials have been proven to pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and stay in glioblastoma tissues. Recent preclinical research suggests that the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumor is significantly explored through the intervention of nanomaterials that has showed enhanced effect. In order to elicit an antitumor response, it is necessary to retain the therapeutic candidates within glioblastoma tissues and this job is effectively carried out by nanocarrier particularly functionalized nanocarriers. In the arena of neoplastic diseases including GBM have achieved great attention in recent decades. Furthermore, interleukin-13 receptor α chain variant 2 (IL13Rα2) is a highly expressed and studied target in GBM that is lacked by the surrounding environment. The absence of IL13Rα2 in surrounding normal tissues has made it a suitable target in glioblastoma therapy. In this review article, we highlighted the role of IL13Rα2 as a potential target in GBM along with design and fabrication of efficient targeting strategies for IL13Rα2 through surface functionalized nanocarriers.
Insights
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains a deadly brain cancer. Nanotechnology offers new hope, using functionalized nanocarriers to target the IL13Rα2 receptor for improved GBM treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Nanomedicine
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis, often with a median survival of only 15 months.
- Current standard treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have limited efficacy.
- Nanomaterials show potential for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and accumulating in GBM tissues, enhancing therapeutic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of interleukin-13 receptor α chain variant 2 (IL13Rα2) as a therapeutic target in GBM.
- To explore the design and fabrication of nanocarriers for targeted delivery to IL13Rα2 in GBM.
- To highlight advancements in nanotechnology for improved glioblastoma diagnosis and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical research on nanomaterial applications in brain tumor therapy.
- Analysis of IL13Rα2 expression patterns in GBM and normal brain tissue.
- Discussion of nanocarrier functionalization strategies for IL13Rα2 targeting.
Main Results:
- IL13Rα2 is highly expressed in GBM but absent in surrounding normal tissues, making it a specific therapeutic target.
- Functionalized nanocarriers can effectively retain therapeutic agents within GBM tissues.
- Nanotechnology enables enhanced diagnosis and treatment strategies for brain tumors.
Conclusions:
- Targeting IL13Rα2 with surface-functionalized nanocarriers presents a promising strategy for GBM therapy.
- Nanotechnology holds significant potential for improving outcomes in glioblastoma treatment.
- Further research into targeted nanocarrier systems is crucial for advancing GBM therapeutics.
