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Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?
Published on: June 13, 2014
Redox-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticle for Nucleic Acid Delivery and Cancer Therapy: Progress, Opportunities, and
Lei Xu1,2,3, Yuan Cao1,2,3, Ya Xu1,2,3
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Cancer development and progression of cancer are closely associated with the activation of oncogenes and loss of tumor suppressor genes. Nucleic acid drugs (e.g., siRNA, mRNA, and DNA) are widely used for cancer therapy due to their specific ability to regulate the expression of any cancer-associated genes. However, nucleic acid drugs are negatively charged biomacromolecules that are susceptible to serum nucleases and cannot cross cell membrane. Therefore, specific delivery tools are required to facilitate the intracellular delivery of nucleic acid drugs. In the past few decades, a variety of nanoparticles (NPs) are designed and developed for nucleic acid delivery and cancer therapy. In particular, the polymeric NPs in response to the abnormal redox status in cancer cells have garnered much more attention as their potential in redox-triggered nanostructure dissociation and rapid intracellular release of nucleic acid drugs. In this review, the important genes or signaling pathways regulating the abnormal redox status in cancer cells are briefly introduced and the recent development of redox-responsive NPs for nucleic acid delivery and cancer therapy is systemically summarized. The future development of NPs-mediated nucleic acid delivery and their challenges in clinical translation are also discussed.
Insights
Redox-responsive nanoparticles offer a promising strategy for delivering nucleic acid drugs in cancer therapy. These nanoparticles are designed to release their therapeutic payload effectively inside cancer cells, overcoming delivery challenges.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Cancer progression is linked to oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene loss.
- Nucleic acid drugs (siRNA, mRNA, DNA) show promise for cancer treatment but face delivery challenges.
- Poor cellular uptake and nuclease susceptibility hinder nucleic acid drug efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review redox-responsive nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery in cancer therapy.
- To summarize recent advancements in designing nanoparticles that exploit cancer's abnormal redox status.
- To discuss future directions and clinical translation challenges for nanoparticle-mediated nucleic acid delivery.
Main Methods:
- Introduction to key genes and signaling pathways involved in cancer's abnormal redox status.
- Systematic summary of recent developments in redox-responsive nanoparticles for nucleic acid delivery.
- Discussion of nanoparticle design principles for triggered intracellular drug release.
Main Results:
- Polymeric nanoparticles responding to the tumor microenvironment's redox status are effective delivery vehicles.
- Redox-responsive nanoparticles facilitate rapid intracellular release of nucleic acid drugs.
- These systems enhance the specificity and efficiency of cancer-associated gene regulation.
Conclusions:
- Redox-responsive nanoparticles represent a significant advancement in nucleic acid drug delivery for cancer.
- Exploiting the cancer cell redox environment offers a targeted therapeutic strategy.
- Further research is needed to address challenges in clinical translation for widespread application.
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