Abstract
Extending on recent progress in control of matter at the nanoscale, functional nanoparticles and drug nanocarriers are being actively developed with the promise of improved delivery of therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery approaches usually aim at reducing the systemic distribution and associated side-effects typically observed with conventional chemotherapeutic molecules as well as increasing the therapeutic index of the active agents. The enhanced permeation and retention effect has been exploited with notable success to passively deliver nanostructured drug carriers and therapeutic nanoparticles in vivo. Strategies aimed at further enhancing the nanocarriers accumulation within tumor tissues are under intensive investigation and could enable, in a not too distant future, the realization of the long sought after goal of chemotherapy without – or with reduced - side-effects. In particular, immunotargeted approaches are widely predicted to offer much greater specificity towards the target cells and tissues. Advancement in molecular biology has indeed made a wealth of information available in biological processes and application of this new knowledge to nanostructured agents, has also generated unprecedented hope of novel molecular diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Focusing on oncological applications, this review aims to discuss the recent developments in immunotargeting of functional nanoparticles and drug nanocarriers and the integration of these systems into clinically relevant therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Nanocarriers, drug delivery, targeting, immunotargeting, cancer, therapy
Current Drug Delivery
Title: Drug Nanocarriers and Functional Nanoparticles: Applications in Cancer Therapy
Volume: 6 Issue: 4
Author(s): Benjamin Thierry
Affiliation:
Keywords: Nanocarriers, drug delivery, targeting, immunotargeting, cancer, therapy
Abstract: Extending on recent progress in control of matter at the nanoscale, functional nanoparticles and drug nanocarriers are being actively developed with the promise of improved delivery of therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology-enabled drug delivery approaches usually aim at reducing the systemic distribution and associated side-effects typically observed with conventional chemotherapeutic molecules as well as increasing the therapeutic index of the active agents. The enhanced permeation and retention effect has been exploited with notable success to passively deliver nanostructured drug carriers and therapeutic nanoparticles in vivo. Strategies aimed at further enhancing the nanocarriers accumulation within tumor tissues are under intensive investigation and could enable, in a not too distant future, the realization of the long sought after goal of chemotherapy without – or with reduced - side-effects. In particular, immunotargeted approaches are widely predicted to offer much greater specificity towards the target cells and tissues. Advancement in molecular biology has indeed made a wealth of information available in biological processes and application of this new knowledge to nanostructured agents, has also generated unprecedented hope of novel molecular diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Focusing on oncological applications, this review aims to discuss the recent developments in immunotargeting of functional nanoparticles and drug nanocarriers and the integration of these systems into clinically relevant therapeutic applications.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Thierry Benjamin, Drug Nanocarriers and Functional Nanoparticles: Applications in Cancer Therapy, Current Drug Delivery 2009; 6 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720109789000474
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720109789000474 |
Print ISSN 1567-2018 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5704 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances of natural products, bio-actives and novel drug delivery system against emerging viral infections
Due to the increasing prevalence of viral infections and the ability of these human pathogens to develop resistance to current treatment strategies, there is a great need to find and develop new compounds to combat them. These molecules must have low toxicity, specific activity and high bioavailability. The most suitable ...read more
Electrospun Fibers as Drug Delivery Systems
In recent years, electrospun fibers have attracted considerable attention as potential platforms for drug delivery due to their distinctive properties and adaptability. These fibers feature a notable surface area-to-volume ratio and can be intentionally designed with high porosity, facilitating an increased capacity for drug loading and rendering them suitable for ...read more
Emerging Nanotherapeutics for Mitigation of Neurodegenerative Disorders
Conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS) present a significant hurdle due to limited access of both treatments and diagnostic tools for the brain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as a barrier, restricting the passage of molecules from the bloodstream into the brain. The most formidable challenge facing scientists is ...read more
Nanotechnology Based Chemotherapy for the treatment of Head & Neck Cancer
The escalating recurrence rates observed in Head and Neck cancer, particularly within the chemo-therapeutically treated cohort (50-60%), can be attributed to the non-selective nature of current anticancer drug delivery modalities. In this context, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems emerge as a promising avenue for achieving precise localization of therapeutic agents to ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Cisplatin Properties in a Nanobiotechnological Approach to Cancer: A Mini-Review
Current Cancer Drug Targets Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Triterpenoids; Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Agents
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry FDG-PET/CT for Systemic Infections
Current Molecular Imaging (Discontinued) Common Pathways in Health Benefit Properties of RSV in Cardiovascular Diseases, Cancers and Degenerative Pathologies
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Overview of Current Immunotherapies Targeting Mutated KRAS Cancers
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Nanoparticles in Cancer
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Targeting the Nucleus: An Overview of Auger-Electron Radionuclide Therapy
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Emerging Synergisms Between Drugs and Physiologically-Patterned Weak Magnetic Fields: Implications for Neuropharmacology and the Human Population in the Twenty-First Century
Current Neuropharmacology The Application of Chitosan and Its Derivatives as Nanosized Carriers for the Delivery of Chemical Drugs and Genes or Proteins
Current Drug Targets Role of Copper in Angiogenesis and Its Medicinal Implications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Role of Carboxypeptidase N Invasion and Migration in Breast Cancer
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Activating Receptors of Natural Killer Cells and Their Inter-Switching Potentials
Current Drug Targets Cancer Stem-Cells Patents in the Context of their Therapeutic Purposes: Exploring the Latest Trends (2011-2015)
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Molecular Predictors of Efficacy to Anti-EGFR Agents in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Current Cancer Drug Targets Epigenetics: Relations to Disease and Laboratory Findings
Current Medicinal Chemistry Regulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by E3 Ubiquitin Ligases and Deubiquitinase in Cancer
Current Cancer Drug Targets CD95 Signaling in Cancer Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Review of Chemoradiotherapy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Development of <sup>18</sup>F-Labeled PET Probes for Imaging Cell Proliferation
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Vaccine Adjuvants: Key Tools for Innovative Vaccine Design
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry