An overview of active and passive targeting strategies to improve the nanocarriers efficiency to tumour sites

Abstract

Objectives This review highlights both the physicochemical characteristics of the nanocarriers (NCs) and the physiological features of tumour microenvironment (TME) to outline what strategies undertaken to deliver the molecules of interest specifically to certain lesions. This review discusses these properties describing the convenient choice between passive and active targeting mechanisms with details, illustrated with examples of targeting agents up to preclinical research or clinical advances. Key findings Targeted delivery approaches for anticancers have shown a steep rise over the past few decades. Though many successful preclinical trials, only few passive targeted nanocarriers are approved for clinical use and none of the active targeted nanoparticles. Herein, we review the principles and for both processes and the correlation with the tumour microenvironment. We also focus on the limitation and advantages of each systems regarding laboratory and industrial scale. Summary The current literature discusses how the NCs and the enhanced permeation and retention effect impact the passive targeting. Whereas the active targeting relies on the ligand‐receptor binding, which improves selective accumulation to targeted sites and thus discriminates between the diseased and healthy tissues. The latter could be achieved by targeting the endothelial cells, tumour cells, the acidic environment of cancers and nucleus.

Dual Imaging Gold Nanoplatforms for Targeted Radiotheranostics

“…Indeed, Gd 3+ is well known for its paramagnetic properties, but its high mass absorption coefficient and high atomic number also makes it interesting for such applications [28,35]. Up to the present time, there are no Gd 3+ -bearing AuNPs that have been evaluated in clinical trials for MRI, and PET/MRI bimodal imaging studies are in general scarce [36][37][38][39]. While some studies have been done regarding the application of AuNPs for theranostics, their therapeutic function is mostly based on the photothermal properties of the AuNPs themselves or on the delivery of a payload acting as a cytotoxic drug [40][41][42][43][44][45][46].…”

Preparation, Cytotoxicity, and In Vitro Bioimaging of Water Soluble and Highly Fluorescent Palladium Nanoclusters

“…Notably, most of the green fluorescence from the Pd NCs was originating from the cell nucleus (see Figure 8A). This could be presumably due to the ability of Pd NCs accumulate in the nucleus via passive targeting [41]. As shown in Figure 8B, the mean fluorescence intensities from Pd NCs internalized HeLa cells from the nucleus is 5 fold higher than the intensities observed in the cytoplasm.…”

“…Bioengineering 2020, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 11 of 14 passive targeting [41]. As shown in Figure 8B, the mean fluorescence intensities from Pd NCs internalized HeLa cells from the nucleus is 5 fold higher than the intensities observed in the cytoplasm.…”

Zein nanoparticles as nontoxic delivery system for maytansine in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer

“…These newly formed leaky vessels allow the passage of macromolecular substances more than 40 KDa. In addition, the lack of lymphatic drainage in tumors contributes to the retention of nanoparticles, while in the same case small molecule drugs are rapidly washed out of the tumor tissue (Attia et al, 2019). Particle size is an important factor affecting the EPR effect in tumors, limited by the tumor fenestrations in tumors vessels (200-800 nm) ( Chono et al, 2007;Torchilin, 2011).…”