Nano-Therapies for Glioblastoma Treatment

Abstract

Traditional anti-cancer treatments are inefficient against glioblastoma, which remains one of the deadliest and most aggressive cancers. Nano-drugs could help to improve this situation by enabling: (i) an increase of anti-glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) activity of chemo/gene therapeutic drugs, notably by an improved diffusion of these drugs through the blood brain barrier (BBB), (ii) the sensibilization of radio-resistant GBM tumor cells to radiotherapy, (iii) the removal by surgery of infiltrating GBM tumor cells, (iv) the restoration of an apoptotic mechanism of GBM cellular death, (v) the destruction of angiogenic blood vessels, (vi) the stimulation of anti-tumor immune cells, e.g., T cells, NK cells, and the neutralization of pro-tumoral immune cells, e.g., Treg cells, (vii) the local production of heat or radical oxygen species (ROS), and (viii) the controlled release/activation of anti-GBM drugs following the application of a stimulus. This review covers these different aspects.

Ion Channels as Therapeutic Targets in High Grade Gliomas

“…Studies looking into coupling ion channel inhibitors with nano particles [ 104 ] and utilising cavity depot delivery [ 105 ] stand at the forefront of overcoming this issue. A disease-based approach would be beneficial in this circumstance as we have a thorough understanding of the pathology of glioma.…”

Gold Nanopeanuts as Prospective Support for Cisplatin in Glioblastoma Nano-Chemo-Radiotherapy

“…In another work [34], the authors show that a concentration of 0.5 × 10 −6 mg/mL is sufficient to cause a 20% mortality of cancer cells, while a concentration of 2.93 × 10 −6 mg/mL of NPes has to be added to cancer cells to cause the same mortality effect. This is most probably due to the rounded ends of the nanopeanuts, having a similar shape to spherical nanoparticles, known for their lowest cytotoxic properties [35]. NPs, which allow for the attachment of a higher density of cPt.…”

Antiangiogenic Targets for Glioblastoma Therapy from a Pre-Clinical Approach, Using Nanoformulations

“…In order for these therapeutic agents to exert their antiangiogenic and antitumor effects, it is necessary that they penetrate the brain–blood barrier (BBB) [ 35 , 36 ]. One of the ways to penetrate the BBB is through local administration of therapeutic agents exercised by the technique of convection enhanced delivery (CED), in which a specific drug, through catheters connected with an infusion pump, is implanted directly into the developed tumor or in the parenchyma surrounding the tumor mass [ 37 ].…”

“…One of the ways to penetrate the BBB is through local administration of therapeutic agents exercised by the technique of convection enhanced delivery (CED), in which a specific drug, through catheters connected with an infusion pump, is implanted directly into the developed tumor or in the parenchyma surrounding the tumor mass [ 37 ]. This technique is commonly applied in preclinical studies in GBM orthotopic models [ 38 ]; however, it has technical limitations and complications that make this type of therapy ineffective in clinical studies [ 39 ], requiring the development of structures that are safely administered in systemic circulation, are able to cross the BBB, and allow effective bioavailability of anti-tumor/anti-angiogenic drugs [ 35 , 36 , 40 ]. In this regard, a method that has been remarkable and promises to improve the delivery of bioactive compounds is the coupling of different types of nanostructured materials, such as a peptide based on polymeric structures [ 41 , 42 ], lipid-based liposomal formulations [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], and nanoshells [ 48 ].…”

“…In this regard, a method that has been remarkable and promises to improve the delivery of bioactive compounds is the coupling of different types of nanostructured materials, such as a peptide based on polymeric structures [ 41 , 42 ], lipid-based liposomal formulations [ 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ], and nanoshells [ 48 ]. These nanoformulations have the potential to provide clinically minimally invasive and targeted delivery of drugs with proven antiangiogenic effects or whose therapeutic potential is being pre-clinically tested [ 35 , 36 , 40 ].…”