Advances in NP shapes and their applications in cancer therapy

Cancer is a major global cause of death, yet traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have inherent limitations. Nanoparticles (NPs) are rapidly emerging as drug delivery systems for cancer treatments, offering promising advancements to overcome associated challenges and enhance therapies. Innovation in nanoparticle shapes is crucial in nanotechnology research worldwide. Studies indicate that the shape of nanoparticles can affect their tumor-targeting efficiency and blood circulation time. For example, the tumor accumulation of nanorods is reported to be 3-5-times higher than that of nanospheres, while the blood circulation time of nanodisks can be extended by 2-3-times compared to nanospheres. In this review, we first introduce different shapes of nanoparticles, illustrate their fabrication processes, and present their applications. Then, we examine recent research on NP shapes for various cancer treatments, discussing their challenges, perspectives, and potential impact on oncology and offering a deeper understanding.