Targeted Delivery System of Nanobiomaterials in Anticancer Therapy: From Cells to Clinics

Abstract

Targeted delivery systems of nanobiomaterials are necessary to be developed for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nanobiomaterials can be engineered to recognize cancer-specific receptors at the cellular levels and to deliver anticancer drugs into the diseased sites. In particular, nanobiomaterial-based nanocarriers, so-called nanoplatforms, are the design of the targeted delivery systems such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles/micelles, nanoconjugates, norganic materials, carbon-based nanobiomaterials, and bioinspired phage system, which are based on the nanosize of 1–100 nm in diameter. In this review, the design and the application of these nanoplatforms are discussed at the cellular levels as well as in the clinics. We believe that this review can offer recent advances in the targeted delivery systems of nanobiomaterials regarding in vitro and in vivo applications and the translation of nanobiomaterials to nanomedicine in anticancer therapy.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Nanosolutions for a Big Challenge

“…Viral nanoparticles : Viral nanoparticles are biological systems composed of proteomic and genomic complexes, with protein scaffolds typically packaging viral genetic information 98, 99. These nanoplatforms naturally occur in a variety of shapes (e.g.…”

“…These nanoplatforms naturally occur in a variety of shapes (e.g. icosahedrons, spheres, and tubes) typically ranging from 10 nm to over 1 μm 98, 99. The natural process of protein scaffold formation by hierarchical self‐assembly of individual protein subunits provides a simple means for drug loading, which constitutes one of the main advantages of viral‐based nanocarriers 100.…”

“…The natural process of protein scaffold formation by hierarchical self‐assembly of individual protein subunits provides a simple means for drug loading, which constitutes one of the main advantages of viral‐based nanocarriers 100. Furthermore, although only a few viruses show a natural affinity for receptors that are upregulated in tumor cells, numerous chemical and genetic engineering techniques allow scientists to design viral particles able to target specific tumors 80, 99. Various types of virus, including adenovirus and adeno‐associated virus, have been used for this purpose, but bacteriophages (or phages) are one of the most promising ones, due to their lack of tropism for mammalian cells 101.…”

“…Particularly, filamentous bacteriophages have been extremely useful in the screening of homing peptides that target surface proteins of cancer cells via Phage Display for later use as targeting and imaging agents 102, 103. Moreover, due to their diversity and versatility, these prokaryotic viruses have also been widely used as vehicles for gene and drug delivery 99, 104, 105. Indeed, phages can be simultaneously engineered to display targeting ligands and to carry large payloads of cytotoxic drugs by chemical conjugation, acting as targeted nanomedicines 104, 105.…”

“…This feature makes liposomes versatile nanocarriers potentially able to improve drug biodistribution and pharmacokinetics 79, 94. Additionally, liposomes can behave as passive or active targeting agents, depending on the polymer moieties or targeting agents displayed on their surface 99. Numerous studies have shown an enhanced antitumor activity of drug‐carrying liposomes (e.g.…”