Research Progress on Cyclic-Peptide Functionalized Nanoparticles for Tumor-Penetrating Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Effective cancer drug delivery to deep tumor tissues is challenging due to factors like abnormal vasculature and high interstitial fluid pressure (IFP).
• Nanoparticles are engineered with surface ligands to improve drug penetration into tumors.
• Cyclic peptides offer advantages as surface ligands, including ease of synthesis, high binding affinity, tumor selectivity, stability, and low toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review different types of cyclic peptides and their properties for drug delivery applications.
• To update the progress of cyclic peptide-functionalized nanodevices for enhanced tumor penetration.
• To discuss the mechanisms by which cyclic peptides facilitate drug delivery into tumors.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of cyclic peptides used in nanoparticle surface engineering.
• Analysis of physicochemical properties and in vivo pharmacokinetics of cyclic peptides.
• Examination of the mechanisms of tumor penetration for cyclic peptide-functionalized nanodevices.

Main Results:

• Cyclic peptides demonstrate superior tumor penetration compared to other ligands.
• These peptides exhibit enhanced binding affinity, tumor selectivity, and stability.
• Functionalized nanodevices show promise for overcoming tumor tissue impermeability.

Conclusions:

• Cyclic peptides are effective agents for surface engineering of nanoparticles to improve drug delivery into tumors.
• Their unique properties facilitate enhanced tumor penetration and therapeutic efficacy.
• Further development of cyclic peptide-based nanodevices holds significant potential for cancer treatment.