Smart nanocarriers for enzyme-activated prodrug therapy

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Oncology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Exogenous enzyme-activated prodrug therapy (EPT) is a targeted cancer treatment strategy.
• It involves delivering non-human enzymes to convert prodrugs into active cytotoxic agents.
• EPT has been researched for over 30 years with several agents progressing to clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential of EPT as a promising anticancer treatment.
• To list microbial, plant, and viral enzyme-prodrug systems that have reached clinical trials.
• To discuss emerging trends in EPT nanocarriers and nanotechnology applications.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of enzyme-activated prodrug therapy research.
• Identification of enzyme-prodrug pairs that have advanced to clinical trials.
• Analysis of novel nanocarrier systems for EPT, including nanobubbles, PICsomes, nanoparticles, and EVs.

Main Results:

• Several EPT pharmacological pairs have been developed and tested in clinical trials.
• A few EPT strategies have been successfully applied in specific cancer therapies.
• New nanocarrier technologies enhance EPT efficacy through targeted delivery and stimuli-triggered release.

Conclusions:

• EPT represents a significant advancement in targeted cancer therapy.
• Nanotechnology, particularly nanocarriers, offers innovative approaches to improve EPT efficacy and specificity.
• Continued research in EPT and nanocarrier systems holds great promise for future cancer treatment strategies.