Nanotechnology For Cancer Therapy Research Articles

Recent progress in nanotechnology for cancer therapy

The application of nanotechnology significantly benefits clinical practice in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and management. Especially, nanotechnology offers a promise for the targeted delivery of drugs, genes, and proteins to tumor tissues and therefore alleviating the toxicity of anticancer agents in healthy tissues. This article reviews current nanotechnology platforms for anticancer drug delivery, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, nanoshells, carbon nanotubes, superparamagnetic nanoparticles, and nucleic acid-based nanoparticles [DNA, RNA interference (RNAi), and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)] as well as nanotechnologies for combination therapeutic strategies, for example, nanotechnologies combined with multidrug-resistance modulator, ultrasound, hyperthermia, or photodynamic therapy. This review raises awareness of the advantages and challenges for the application of these therapeutic nanotechnologies, in light of some recent advances in nanotechnologic drug delivery and cancer therapy.

Cyanine dyes in optical imaging of tumours

Near-infrared imaging holds promise for in-vivo cancer detection because of flow tissue autofluorescence and high tissue penetration depth. Cyanine dyes have shown much potential as non-targeting contrast agents for optical imaging; in particular, indocyanine green has long been implemented in clinical use. To improve targeting selectivity and delivery efficiency, common strategies with activatable technology need the chemical conjugation of suitable near-infrared emission range agents with tumour-specific ligands such as antibodies. 1 Kobayashi H Longmire MR Ogawa M Choyke PL Kawamato S Multiplexed imaging in cancer diagnosis: applications and future advances. Lancet Oncol. 2010; 11: 589-595 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (66) Google Scholar Although these conjugated agents with tumour-specific antibodies or other ligands have shown promising efficacy in preclinical and clinical trials compared with conventional chemotherapy drugs, limitations in their delivery and specificity remain. For example, in-vivo studies have shown that only one to ten parts per 100 000 of intravenously administered monoclonal antibodies, of therapeutic or imaging agents, can reach their parenchymal targets, and only to specific tumour types. 2 Wang X Yang L Chen ZG Shin DM Application of nanotechnology in cancer therapy and imaging. CA Cancer J Clin. 2008; 58: 97-110 Crossref PubMed Scopus (537) Google Scholar Furthermore, the chemical conjugation might affect the specificity, affinity, and distribution of the agents in cells and tissues.

Cancer nanotechnology: application of nanotechnology in cancer therapy

The application of nanotechnology for cancer therapy has received considerable attention in recent years. Cancer nanotechnology (an interdisciplinary area of research in science, engineering and medicine) is an upcoming field with extensive applications. It provides a unique approach and comprehensive technology against cancer through early diagnosis, prediction, prevention, personalized therapy and medicine. Target-specific drug therapy and methods for early diagnosis of pathologies are the priority research areas in which nanotechnology would play a vital part. This review focuses on the approaches of cancer nanotechnology in the advancement of cancer therapy.

Clinical Developments in Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy

Nanoparticle approaches to drug delivery for cancer offer exciting and potentially "game-changing" ways to improve patient care and quality of life in numerous ways, such as reducing off-target toxicities by more selectively directing drug molecules to intracellular targets of cancer cells. Here, we focus on technologies being investigated clinically and discuss numerous types of therapeutic molecules that have been incorporated within nanostructured entities such as nanoparticles. The impacts of nanostructured therapeutics on efficacy and safety, including parameters like pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, are described for several drug molecules. Additionally, we discuss recent advances in the understanding of ligand-based targeting of nanoparticles, such as on receptor avidity and selectivity.

Fabrication of Gold Nanoparticle for Potential Application in Multiple Myeloma

The importance of nanotechnology in human health care is unquestionable. There is a growing interest to apply nanotechnology in cancer therapy, as an example. In this report, we have fabricated gold nanoparticle (AuNP), the delivery vehicle of interest, with an anti-cancer drug (Velcade) and a targeting agent (folic acid) for potential therapeutic application in multiple myeloma. Physico-chemical characterization of the nanoconjugates were carried out by UV-Visble spectroscopy exploiting the surface plasmon resonance band of AuNP, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and studying release of radio-labeled tritiated folic acid (3FA) in a scintillation counter. The evidence of the attachment of velcade to AuNP was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and studying the release of3FA from gold-velcade-FA conjugates (Au-Vel-FA). Furthermore, the stability of Au-Vel-FA tested in PBS (phosphate buffer saline) by monitoring the release of3FA suggested significant stability of the nanoconjugate. Functional activity of the nanoconjugate was tested by studying the apoptosis of different multiple myeloma cell lines by annexin/PI method. Apoptosis data suggested that Velcade retained its functional activity in Au-Vel-FA. In future, this strategy may be potentially utilized as an alternative approach for the treatment of multiple myeloma.

Application of Nanotechnology in Cancer Therapy and Imaging

Recent developments in nanotechnology have provided researchers with new tools for cancer imaging and treatment. This technology has enabled the development of nanoscale devices that can be conjugated with several functional molecules simultaneously, including tumor-specific ligands, antibodies, anticancer drugs, and imaging probes. Since these nanodevices are 100 to 1,000-fold smaller than cancer cells, they can be easily transferred through leaky blood vessels and interact with targeted tumor-specific proteins both on the surface of and inside cancer cells. Therefore, their application as cancer cell-specific delivery vehicles will be a significant addition to the currently available armory for cancer therapeutics and imaging.

Targeted nanoparticles for cancer therapy

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in using nanotechnology for cancer therapy. The development of smart targeted nanoparticles (NPs) that can deliver drugs at a sustained rate directly to cancer cells may provide better efficacy and lower toxicity for treating primary and advanced metastatic tumors. We highlight some of the promising classes of targeting molecules that are under development for the delivery of NPs. We also review the emerging technologies for the fabrication of targeted NPs using microfluidic devices.