Nanoparticle Drones to Target Lung Cancer with Radiosensitizers and Cannabinoids

Abstract

Nanotechnology has opened up a new, previously unimaginable world in cancer diagnosis and therapy, leading to the emergence of cancer nanomedicine and nanoparticle-aided radiotherapy. Smart nanomaterials (nanoparticle drones) can now be constructed with capability to precisely target cancer cells and be remotely activated with radiation to emit micrometer-range missile-like electrons to destroy the tumor cells. These nanoparticle drones can also be programmed to deliver therapeutic payloads to tumor sites to achieve optimal therapeutic efficacy. In this article, we examine the state-of-the-art and potential of nanoparticle drones in targeting lung cancer. Inhalation (INH) (air) versus traditional intravenous (“sea”) routes of navigating physiological barriers using such drones is assessed. Results and analysis suggest that INH route may offer more promise for targeting tumor cells with radiosensitizers and cannabinoids from the perspective of maximizing damage to lung tumors cells while minimizing any collateral damage or side effects.

Delivery of Nanoparticle-Based Radiosensitizers for Radiotherapy Applications

“…In the traditional intravenous routes (injection or infusion) of delivery of NPs, the NPs have to navigate through physiological barriers before some portion of the NPs reaches the tumor site [1]. Studies have shown that of the NPs delivered (including targeted drug and nanoparticles) via systemic routes, only a portion of the administered dosage reaches the target tumor site, even with the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect [3,57,64,65], whereas the remainder of the dose remains in systemic circulation, leading to systemic toxicity [57].…”

“…However, radiation boosting can substantially increase the survival rate for patients with lung cancers, but is restricted by healthy tissue toxicity due to the respiratory motion [68,[70][71][72]. The proposed treatment strategy to overcoming the limitations is to increase the dose to the tumor volume, while carefully sparing the surrounding normal lung tissue by increasing local radiosensitization via inhalation nanoparticles, as seen in Figure 1B, and decreasing the dose to balance complications and cancer cure [1,68]. Combined chemoradiotherapy is the best strategy for boosting the radiation dose to the tumor.…”

“…Combined chemoradiotherapy is the best strategy for boosting the radiation dose to the tumor. However, studies have shown that only about 5% of NPs administered via intravenous (IV) routes reach the lungs [1,68,73]. Conversely, delivery of NPs via inhalation leads to the accumulation of NPs in the lungs, limiting the escape of the NPs into the systemic circulation, thereby limiting systemic toxicity [73].…”

“…Nanotechnology has unlocked and broadened cancer diagnostics and the therapeutic window of radiotherapy, resulting in the prospect of nanoparticle-based radiotherapy with the aim of increasing radiotherapeutic efficacy [1][2][3]. Current radiotherapy (RT) modalities used in cancer treatment are employed in over 50% of cancer patients, and RT may be combined with other treatments such as surgery or chemotherapy [4][5][6][7].…”

“…In this review, nanoparticles used for radiosensitization are discussed. They can be either therapeutic agents (e.g., drug-based nanoparticles, such as drug-encapsulated polymeric NPs, and platinum-based nanoparticles) or inert therapeutic agents (e.g., gold nanoparticles) that increase the effects of ionizing radiation [1,2,8,10,[18][19][20]. The therapeutic NPs (e.g., cisplatin, oxaliplatin or carboplatin NPs) can sensitize and kill cancerous cells without ionizing radiation.…”