Nanotechnology for Pediatric Retinoblastoma Therapy

Abstract

Retinoblastoma is a rare, sometimes hereditary, pediatric cancer. In high-income countries this disease has a survival rate approaching 100%, while in low- and middle-income countries the prognosis is fatal for about 80% of cases. Depending on the stage of the disease, different therapeutic protocols are applied. In more advanced forms of the disease, surgical removal of the entire globe and its intraocular contents (enucleation) is, unfortunately, necessary, whereas in other cases, conventional chemotherapy is normally used. To overcome the side-effects and reduced efficacy of traditional chemotherapic drugs, nanodelivery systems that ensure a sustained drug release and manage to reach the target site have more recently been developed. This review takes into account the current use and advances of nanomedicine in the treatment of retinoblastoma and discusses nanoparticulate formulations that contain conventional drugs and natural products. In addition, future developments in retinoblastoma treatment are discussed.

Nanoparticle-based delivery systems as emerging therapy in retinoblastoma: recent advances, challenges and prospects

“…Due to their unique characteristics, including biocompatibility, MSNs have been investigated as a potential therapy for retinoblastoma. 84,85 One method of employing MSNs in treating retinoblastoma entails dosing them with a chemotherapeutic agent and directing them, particularly to cancer cells in the eye. MSNs' large surface areas, variable pore sizes, and capacity to be functionalized with targeting ligands make it possible for them to load medicines efficiently and bind to cancer cells specically, as shown in Fig.…”

“…7). 85 Studies have also reported these compounds to have fewer toxic effects than conventional chemotherapeutic agents. 85 However,…”

“…Oncolytic viral vectors utilize the dysfunctional RB1 pathway with increased expression of E2F to target tumour cells. 65,162 Electrospun nanobers are another frontier research area explored for the treatment of cancers, including retinoblastoma. The major advantages include their unique morphological features that allow for favourable drug loading and the possibility of fabrication into various geometries with different sizes.…”

“…Oncolytic viral vectors utilize the dysfunctional RB1 pathway with increased expression of E2F to target tumour cells. 65,162…”

Bioactive Polymeric Nanoparticles of Moringa oleifera Induced Phyto-Photothermal Sensitization for the Enhanced Therapy of Retinoblastoma

“…PTT employs plasmonic metallic nanosystems or NIR dye, which convert the incident NIR light into light, thereby causing a localized ablation of the tumor cells [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Several studies have reported the use of photothermal therapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. However, recent literature reports reveal that the tumor cells acquire inherent resistance to the heat that is induced via PTT through the activation of heat shock proteins (HSP).…”