Melittin-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Applications, and Future Perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nanomedicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Melittin, a honeybee venom peptide, exhibits potent anticancer properties via membrane disruption and apoptosis induction.
• Clinical use of melittin is limited by toxicity, poor pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity.
• Nanoparticle delivery systems offer a promising strategy to overcome melittin's limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review melittin's anticancer mechanisms and nanoparticle delivery strategies.
• To evaluate preclinical evidence of melittin nanotherapy in various cancers.
• To discuss challenges and future directions for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of studies from 2008-2025.
• Analysis of melittin's molecular targets and signaling pathway modulation.
• Evaluation of diverse melittin-loaded nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, etc.).

Main Results:

• Melittin nanoparticles demonstrate cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects across multiple cancer types.
• Nanocarrier systems improve tumor targeting and reduce off-target toxicity.
• Potential for melittin nanoparticles to overcome multidrug resistance and synergize with other therapies.

Conclusions:

• Melittin-based nanomedicines show significant preclinical promise for cancer treatment.
• Barriers to clinical translation include toxicity, manufacturing, and regulatory hurdles.
• Computational modeling and interdisciplinary collaboration are key for future development.