Abstract
We review innovative methods for treatment of cancer tumor on the basis of nanotechnology and physics to target, monitor and control release of chemotherapeutic agents. Chemotherapy is one of the main methods of treatment for cancer and plays a vital role in clinical practice, but side effects of anticancer drugs are still critical problems. Magnetic nanoparticles can be applied as an effective drug carriers and contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Since certain nanoparticles have magnetic properties, they can be trapped in tumor during blood circulation by an external magnetic field. Also, polymeric nanoparticles are great candidates to encapsulate anticancer drugs and to control the release profile of drugs in biologic media. We suggest the construction of drug-loaded polymer-coated magnetic (DPM) nanoplatform with the potential for being utilized in medical imaging as well as having controlled drug release properties. Nanoplatform distribution can be monitored by MRI and with clever combination of ultrasound physics and suggested DPM nanoplatform, it would be feasible to increase the rate of drug release (in situ) and drug uptake by cancerous cell. To optimize the level of drug uptake by cancerous cell, the selection of ultrasound frequency and intensity is essential. The development of suggested method could be a new approach against cancer tumor.
Highlights
IntroductionA need exists for anti-cancer drugs to target the tumor site, without damaging normal body cells [1]
Among all treatments for cancer, chemotherapy plays an important role in clinical practice, but the drugs’ side effects are the main problems [1, 2]
One of the major disadvantages of the chemotherapy is the destruction of cancer cells as well as normal cells of the body
Summary
A need exists for anti-cancer drugs to target the tumor site, without damaging normal body cells [1] This process is called “drug targeting,” that is, directing a drug as precisely as possible to the desired region, effectively mitigates harmful side effects and offers the possibility to apply a systemically lower dose [7]. The use of magnetic iron oxide in polymer matrices (such as PLGA) has been recently reported [10] to impart a magnetic moment to the polymeric nanoparticles Since these nanoplatforms have a magnetic core, the accumulation of anti-cancer drug in specific location can be monitored by MRI. Combination of ultrasound and polymeric nanoparticles provides us with passive targeting to the tumor volume in vivo and substantially enhances the intracellular drug uptake by tumor cells. With clever combination of ultrasound and suggested DPM nanoplatform, it would be feasible to monitor and increase the drug release rate (in situ) and drug uptake by tumor [15, 16]
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