Nanoparticles-Mediated Modulation of TRP Channels: Advances and Therapeutic Potential

Nanoparticles have emerged as promising tools for targeting and activating ion channels that serve as transducers for external signals. Their nanoscale dimensions enable targeted activation of ion channels at the cellular or subcellular level, offering unprecedented opportunities to control biological cell signaling. Recent works have demonstrated nanoparticle-mediated stimulation based on optical, electrical, and magnetic external signals, highlighting their potential to serve as minimally invasive therapeutics. In addition, there is an increasing need to identify relevant ion channels and their physiological role in advancing emerging nanotechnologies. The transient receptor potential (TRP) family, including prominent members such as the TRPV (vanilloid), TRPM (Melastatin), and TRPA (ankyrin), plays critical roles in physiological functions, such as temperature sensation, pain perception, and mechanical stimulus detection, and can be controlled via nanoparticle signaling. This review highlights the properties and roles of dominant TRP family members in different organs and positions them as relevant targets for novel technologies. Leveraging the knowledge of nanoparticle properties with recent advances in pharmacology and disease treatments that target TRP family members will enhance the development of novel nano-biotechnologies to control cell signaling.