Hybrid Nanoparticles as Drug Carriers for Controlled Chemotherapy of Cancer

Abstract

Rapid developments in materials science and biological mechanisms have greatly boosted the research discoveries of new drug delivery systems. In the past few decades, hundreds of nanoparticle-based drug carriers have been reported almost on a daily basis, in which new materials, structures, and mechanisms are proposed and evaluated. Standing out among the drug carriers, the hybrid nanoparticle systems offer a great opportunity for the optimization and improvement of conventional chemotherapy. By combining several features of functional components, these hybrid nanoparticles have shown excellent promises of improved biosafety, biocompatibility, multifunctionality, biodegradability, and so forth. In this Personal Account, we highlight the recent research advances of some representative hybrid nanoparticles as drug delivery systems and discuss their design strategies and responsive mechanisms for controlled drug delivery.

Delivery of cancer therapies by synthetic and bio-inspired nanovectors

“…This combination of photothermia, NO gas therapy and chemotherapy achieved complete breast tumor regression in mice after a single near-infrared irradiation. Hyperthermia can also be used to release chemotherapeutics enclosed in hybrid delivery systems constituted of nanoparticles associated with thermosensitive molecules [169]. Regarding epigenetic modulation, some studies suggest that metallic and silica nanoparticles could directly induce modifications of DNA methylation or of histone acetylation and disrupt miRNA expression [170,171], but the significance of these modifications in the context of cancer treatment is still to be investigated.…”

Active Targeting Nanoparticle Self‐Assembled from Cisplatin‐Palbociclib Amphiphiles Ensures Optimal Drug Ratio for Combinatorial Chemotherapy

“…[14,15] Nanovehicles, such as nanoparticles and polymers, could simultaneously deliver two different drug payloads in tumors, but very limited biomaterial carriers to date have been approved clinically and using minimum amount of excipient as possible is encouraged for the large-scale industry. [16][17][18][19] In addition, the efficacy of the combinatorial drug treatment largely depends on a certain molar ratio of the coadministered drugs. For instance, combination of irinotecan and floxuridine can be synergistic at 1:1 molar ratio, but turns into antagonism at 1:10 molar ratio.…”

Progress toward Safe Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy via Degradable Inorganic Nanomaterials Constructed with Metabolically Safe Elements

“…The past several decades have witnessed great advances in nanotechnology for biomedical applications, which has revolutionized many areas of healthcare including diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. − In a broad perspective, the current nanomaterials for biomedical applications could be categorized as organic, inorganic, or an organic/inorganic hybrid, which all have their inherit advantages and limitations. − Specifically, past research in inorganic nanomaterials has brought up tremendous accomplishments in the design and synthesis of various functional nanostructures that could be valuable assets for applications both in vivo and ex vivo. It is widely accepted that inorganic nanomaterials usually demonstrate unique and irreplaceable physical/chemical properties, which are rarely found in their bulk form or those organic counterparts. − It has been consistently confirmed in various literature sources that these features could prove highly valuable for tumor diagnosis and therapy after proper modification and integration.…”