Nanoparticles in Medicine: Current Status in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Cancer is still a leading cause of deaths worldwide, especially due to those cases diagnosed at late stages with metastases that are still considered untreatable and are managed in such a way that a lengthy chronic state is achieved. Nanotechnology has been acknowledged as one possible solution to improve existing cancer treatments, but also as an innovative approach to developing new therapeutic solutions that will lower systemic toxicity and increase targeted action on tumors and metastatic tumor cells. In particular, the nanoparticles studied in the context of cancer treatment include organic and inorganic particles whose role may often be expanded into diagnostic applications. Some of the best studied nanoparticles include metallic gold and silver nanoparticles, quantum dots, polymeric nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes and graphene, with diverse mechanisms of action such as, for example, the increased induction of reactive oxygen species, increased cellular uptake and functionalization properties for improved targeted delivery. Recently, novel nanoparticles for improved cancer cell targeting also include nanobubbles, which have already demonstrated increased localization of anticancer molecules in tumor tissues. In this review, we will accordingly present and discuss state-of-the-art nanoparticles and nano-formulations for cancer treatment and limitations for their application in a clinical setting.

Natural Products-Based Inhaled Formulations for Treating Pulmonary Diseases

“…Nanogels are non-toxic and biocompatible porous carriers with large surface area and drug loading capacity, making them particularly suitable for clinical topical applications. 119 For example, cholesteryl group-modified pullulan self-assembled polysaccharide nanogels for cancer vaccine delivery and enhancement of immune response against tumor cells. 120 Chen et al 121 designed an inhalable nanogel with a “material-drug” structure to improve the low solubility and bioavailability deficiencies of quercetin, a natural flavonoid with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.…”

Chemotherapeutic Potential of AgNP Orchestrated Semecarpus anacardium Nut Extracts Against Ovarian Cancer Cell Line, PA-1

“…The difficulties posed by using harmful chemical reagents may be resolved by the synthesis of AgNPs using phyto molecules. Other than silver, several metal nanoparticles have been used for synthesizing nanoparticles which are used in different cancers to prove their efficacy in chemotherapeutics as well as immunotherapy [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][65][66][67][68][69][70]. Apart from metal nanoparticles, synthesis of photonic nanoparticles has also been tremendously increased in the recent years for cancer therapeutics [62].…”

Advances in Nanoparticles in the Prevention and Treatment of Myocardial Infarction

“…The surface of metal nanoparticles can be functionalized and conjugated with anti-bodies, ligands, drugs, etc., to realize their applications in biotechnology, drug and gene delivery, imaging, and other fields [ 78 ]. The surface of metal nanoparticles is easy to interact with targeting agents and other molecules through hydrogen bonding, covalent bonding, and electrostatic interactions, and shows higher stability and longer half-life in terms of circulation, biodistribution, and targeting target sites [ 79 ]. Arozal et al [ 80 ] used a rat model of MI induced by isoproterenol (Iso) to evaluate the protective effect of silver nanoparticles on myocardial infarction.…”