Recent advances in glucose oxidase-based nanocarriers for tumor targeting therapy

Su Li1, Qinghua Wang2, Zhen Jia3

  • 1Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214002, China.

Heliyon
|October 2, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Glucose oxidase (GOx) nanocarriers show promise for cancer therapy by overcoming GOx limitations. This review details GOx nanocarrier mechanisms, targeting strategies, and future directions for enhanced tumor treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Cancer Therapy

Background:

  • Glucose oxidase (GOx) catalyzes glucose conversion, producing H2O2, useful for tumor starvation and oxidative therapies.
  • GOx faces challenges in cancer therapy, including immunogenicity, poor in vivo stability, short half-life, and systemic toxicity.
  • Nanocarriers can improve drug delivery by enhancing stability, circulation time, tumor accumulation, and reducing toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and evaluate the application of targeted nanocarriers based on glucose oxidase (GOx) for enhanced tumor therapy.
  • To examine the mechanisms of GOx-based nanocarriers in improving cancer treatment efficacy.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of GOx-based nanocarriers for tumor targeting therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on GOx-based nanocarriers for cancer therapy.
  • Analysis of GOx nanocarrier mechanisms, including passive and active targeting strategies (ligand-mediated and physical-mediated).
  • Discussion of current challenges and future advancements in the field.

Main Results:

  • GOx-based nanocarriers effectively address the limitations of free GOx, improving its therapeutic properties.
  • Nanocarriers enhance GOx efficacy through improved stability, circulation, and tumor-specific accumulation.
  • Both passive and active targeting strategies are employed to optimize GOx delivery to tumors.

Conclusions:

  • GOx-based nanocarriers represent a promising strategy for overcoming the limitations of GOx in cancer therapy.
  • Targeted delivery systems are crucial for maximizing the therapeutic potential of GOx in tumor treatment.
  • Further research into GOx nanocarrier design and application holds significant potential for advancing cancer therapy.