Nanomaterials for cancer medication: from individual nanoparticles toward nanomachines and nanorobots

Abstract

The nanomaterials for cancer medication are already reality providing a wide range of new tools and possibilities, from earlier diagnostics and improved imaging to better, more efficient, and more targeted anticancer therapies. The purpose of this critical review is to focus on the current use of clinically approved nanoparticles for cancer theranostic, nanovaccines and delivery platforms for gene therapy. These include inorganic, metal and polymer nanoparticles, nanocrystals and varieties of drug delivery nanosystems (micelles, liposomes, microcapsules and etc.). The recent progress in cancer nanomedicine enables to combine the benefits of individual nanoparticles with biomolecules into a multifunction nanomachines and even highly advanced nanorobots for targeted therapies. Nowadays clinical trials with advanced anticancer nanomachines provide potential for more accurately and effective identification and destruction of the cancer cells present in the human body.

Multifaceted Engineered Biomimetic Nanorobots Toward Cancer Management

“…The energy source is provided by microbes like bacteria or eukaryotic cells . Brownian motion and low Reynolds number have to be overcome with the proper designing of the device . For example, a type of bacteria, Magnetococcus marinus specifically the MC-1 strain, has gradually developed a sensory system for detecting hypoxic regions, along with the propulsion equipment which is flagella to move toward the hypoxic habitat in a microfluidic environment.…”

The State of the Art of Theranostic Nanomaterials for Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancers

“…Small molecules are one of the most powerful targeting moieties due to their size, stability, reproducibility, and that they offer high ligand densities as corona on the theranostic nanomaterials. These include glycoproteins, such as gum arabic and folic acid (folate), with the latter exhibiting high binding affinity (K d = 10 −9 M) to folate receptors (α or β) overexpressed in various tumors, such as triple-negative breast, which has limited therapeutic options and poor prognosis [ 83 ]. Carbohydrate ligands also make part of small targeting moieties (i.e., dextran, galactose, glucose, mannose and their derivatives) that can selectively target and recognize lectin receptors, all affording for specific targeted delivery [ 81 ].…”

The prototypes of nanozyme-based nanorobots

“…In the progress of cancer nanomedicines, nanoparticles have made a remarkable contribution to drug delivery, tumor therapy, in vivo imaging, etc. (Loukanov et al 2019b). However, many nanoparticles usually lack some systems, for example, the driving system, and make movement just following the environment.…”