Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2025
Author Spotlight: Innovative Cancer Therapies with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Glioblastoma Treatment
Published on: September 27, 2024
Harnessing the potential of nanoengineered siRNAs carriers for target responsive glioma therapy: Recent progress and
Kailash Ahirwar1, Ankit Kumar1, Nidhi Srivastava2
1Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Raebareli, Lucknow, U.P. 226002, India.
Abstract:
Past scientific testimonials in the field of glioma research, the deadliest tumor among all brain cancer types with the life span of 10-15 months after diagnosis is considered as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Even though the availability of treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, are unable to completely cure GBM due to tumor microenvironment complexity, intrinsic cellular signalling, and genetic mutations which are involved in chemoresistance. The blood-brain barrier is accountable for restricting drugs entry at the tumor location and related biological challenges like endocytic degradation, short systemic circulation, and insufficient cellular penetration lead to tumor aggression and progression. The above stated challenges can be better mitigated by small interfering RNAs (siRNA) by knockdown genes responsible for tumor progression and resistance. However, siRNA encounters with challenges like inefficient cellular transfection, short circulation time, endogenous degradation, and off-target effects. The novel functionalized nanocarrier approach in conjunction with biological and chemical modification offers an intriguing potential to address challenges associated with the naked siRNA and efficiently silence STAT3, coffilin-1, EGFR, VEGF, SMO, MGMT, HAO-1, GPX-4, TfR, LDLR and galectin-1 genes in GBM tumor. This review highlights the nanoengineered siRNA carriers, their recent advancements, future perspectives, and strategies to overcome the systemic siRNA delivery challenges for glioma treatment.
Insights
Novel nanocarriers offer a promising solution for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment by delivering small interfering RNAs (siRNA) to silence key genes. This approach overcomes challenges associated with traditional siRNA delivery for brain cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with a poor prognosis despite current treatments.
- Tumor microenvironment complexity, chemoresistance, and the blood-brain barrier impede effective GBM therapy.
- Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) show potential for gene silencing but face delivery challenges like degradation and off-target effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in nanoengineered siRNA carriers for glioblastoma treatment.
- To explore strategies for overcoming systemic siRNA delivery challenges in glioma.
- To highlight the potential of functionalized nanocarriers for silencing GBM-related genes.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on nanoengineered siRNA carriers for glioma.
- Analysis of biological and chemical modifications for enhanced siRNA delivery.
- Identification of key genes targeted by siRNA for GBM therapy.
Main Results:
- Functionalized nanocarriers can mitigate challenges of naked siRNA, including cellular transfection and degradation.
- Nanoengineered siRNA can efficiently silence genes such as STAT3, EGFR, VEGF, and MGMT in GBM.
- These carriers offer potential for improved drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier.
Conclusions:
- Nanoengineered siRNA delivery systems represent a promising therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma.
- Further research and development are needed to optimize these systems for clinical application.
- Addressing systemic delivery challenges is crucial for effective glioma treatment using siRNA nanotechnology.
