Abstract
The field of nanotechnology has led to the development of many innovative strategies for effective detection and treatment of cancer, overcoming limitations associated with conventional cancer diagnosis and therapy. Multifunctional nanoparticle systems can integrate imaging, targeting and treatment moieties on the surface and in the core, resulting in targeted delivery of the imaging or treatment modalities, specifically to the tumor. Multifunctional nanoparticles also enable simultaneous delivery of multiple treatment agents, resulting in effective combinatorial therapeutic regimens against cancer. In this review, various multifunctional nanoparticle systems that feature a variety of targeting moieties for in vitro and/or in vivo cancer imaging and therapy are discussed.
Highlights
Multifunctional nanoparticle-based platforms of anti-cancer drug delivery have paved the way for innovative therapies that are more efficacious, less invasive and less toxic
The surface area/volume ratio and the chemistry of NPs afford the attachment of cancer-specific molecules on the NP surface that can bind to their targets on the cancer cell
Targeted delivery isolates the effect of the drug to just the cancer cells expressing the targeted molecule, decreasing the systemic toxicity and the side effects of the drug or active agent, some of which could be life threatening [2]
Summary
Multifunctional nanoparticle-based platforms of anti-cancer drug delivery have paved the way for innovative therapies that are more efficacious, less invasive and less toxic. Multifunctional NPs are being researched in the delivery of therapeutic agents that include small molecule drugs, antigenic proteins, aptamer sequences and molecular components (DNA, siRNA, shRNA and miRNA) [7]. Multifunctional NPs can be loaded with imaging agents or molecules to provide diagnostic information during optical imaging, magnetic resonance and photothermal detection [8]. Overall, they can be engineered to detect cancer cells, deliver treatment agents and monitor treatment response, integrating diagnosis and treatment in real time. We highlight the three main components that make up a multifunctional NP in cancer drug delivery and imaging: the targeting ligand, the anti-cancer therapeutic agent and the imaging modality
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