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Multifunctional nanosponges in cancer therapy: Integrating targeted drug delivery and theranostic potential
Sandesh Ramchandra Jadhav1, Ashutosh Gupta2, Viola Colaco1
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India.
Abstract:
Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality, with conventional therapies often limited by systemic toxicity, poor drug bioavailability, and the emergence of drug resistance. Multifunctional nanosponges represent an innovative nanotherapeutic platform for cancer management, integrating targeted drug delivery and theranostic functionalities to overcome limitations of conventional therapies. These nanosponges exhibit high encapsulation efficiency for hydrophilic and hydrophobic therapeutics and biologics. Surface functionalization with ligands enables selective tumor targeting via receptor-mediated interactions and enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for preferential drug accumulation in cancer tissues. Stimuli-responsive nanosponges, endogenous and exogenous stimuli, facilitate controlled drug release within the tumor microenvironment, minimizing systemic toxicity. Theranostically, nanosponges incorporate imaging moieties for real-time visualization via MRI, CT, or fluorescence imaging, enabling concurrent diagnostics and therapy. Advanced designs, such as RBC-membrane-coated or DNAzyme-based nanosponges, co-deliver chemotherapeutic agents and gene-silencing constructs, achieving synergistic effects through combinational therapies. Nanosponges offer tunable physicochemical properties and multifunctionality, positioning them as a transformative tool for precision oncology. Collectively, these advances establish multifunctional nanosponges as a versatile and clinically translatable platform, potentially overcoming current therapeutic barriers and redefining strategies for precision cancer management.
Insights
Multifunctional nanosponges offer advanced cancer treatment by enabling targeted drug delivery and theranostics. These nanocarriers overcome conventional therapy limitations, improving drug efficacy and patient outcomes in precision oncology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Oncology
Background:
- Conventional cancer therapies face challenges including systemic toxicity, poor drug bioavailability, and drug resistance.
- Multifunctional nanosponges present a novel nanotherapeutic platform to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of multifunctional nanosponges for enhanced cancer management.
- To highlight their capabilities in targeted drug delivery, theranostics, and overcoming therapeutic barriers.
Main Methods:
- Surface functionalization of nanosponges with targeting ligands for receptor-mediated uptake.
- Incorporation of imaging moieties for theranostic applications (MRI, CT, fluorescence imaging).
- Development of stimuli-responsive nanosponges for controlled drug release and advanced designs like RBC-membrane-coated or DNAzyme-based nanosponges.
Main Results:
- High encapsulation efficiency for diverse therapeutic agents (hydrophilic, hydrophobic, biologics).
- Selective tumor targeting and enhanced drug accumulation via the EPR effect.
- Controlled drug release triggered by internal or external stimuli, reducing systemic toxicity.
- Concurrent diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities through integrated imaging functionalities.
- Synergistic therapeutic effects achieved through co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and gene-silencing agents.
Conclusions:
- Multifunctional nanosponges offer tunable properties and multifunctionality, representing a transformative tool for precision oncology.
- This versatile platform demonstrates clinical translatability, potentially overcoming current cancer treatment barriers.
- Nanosponges redefine strategies for precision cancer management by integrating diagnostics and therapeutics.
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