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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
Nanoparticles as Physically- and Biochemically-Tuned Drug Formulations for Cancers Therapy
Valentina Foglizzo1, Serena Marchiò2,3
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Abstract:
Malignant tumors originate from a combination of genetic alterations, which induce activation of oncogenes and inactivation of oncosuppressor genes, ultimately resulting in uncontrolled growth and neoplastic transformation. Chemotherapy prevents the abnormal proliferation of cancer cells, but it also affects the entire cellular network in the human body with heavy side effects. For this reason, the ultimate aim of cancer therapy remains to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing their normal counterparts. Nanoparticle formulations have the potential to achieve this aim by providing optimized drug delivery to a pathological site with minimal accumulation in healthy tissues. In this review, we will first describe the characteristics of recently developed nanoparticles and how their physical properties and targeting functionalization are exploited depending on their therapeutic payload, route of delivery, and tumor type. Second, we will analyze how nanoparticles can overcome multidrug resistance based on their ability to combine different therapies and targeting moieties within a single formulation. Finally, we will discuss how the implementation of these strategies has led to the generation of nanoparticle-based cancer vaccines as cutting-edge instruments for cancer immunotherapy.
Insights
Nanoparticle formulations offer targeted cancer therapy, selectively killing malignant cells while sparing healthy ones. This review explores nanoparticle characteristics, drug delivery, overcoming resistance, and their role in cancer vaccines for immunotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Cancer arises from genetic alterations leading to uncontrolled cell growth.
- Conventional chemotherapy causes significant side effects due to non-specific cellular toxicity.
- Targeted cancer therapies aim to selectively eliminate cancer cells, preserving normal tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in nanoparticle formulations for cancer therapy.
- To analyze how nanoparticle properties and targeting strategies optimize drug delivery.
- To discuss the potential of nanoparticles in overcoming multidrug resistance and developing cancer vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on nanoparticle characteristics and applications in cancer treatment.
- Analysis of physical properties, functionalization, and therapeutic payloads of nanoparticles.
- Exploration of nanoparticle-based strategies for drug delivery, overcoming multidrug resistance, and immunotherapy.
Main Results:
- Nanoparticles can be engineered with specific physical properties and targeting moieties for optimized drug delivery.
- Nanoparticle formulations can overcome multidrug resistance by combining therapies and targeting agents.
- Nanoparticle-based cancer vaccines represent a promising frontier in cancer immunotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Nanoparticle technology holds significant potential for developing more effective and less toxic cancer treatments.
- Targeted delivery and combination therapies using nanoparticles can improve treatment outcomes.
- Nanoparticle-based cancer vaccines are emerging as powerful tools for cancer immunotherapy.
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