Targeted Imaging and Therapy of Brain Cancer Using Theranostic Nanoparticles

Abstract

The past decade has seen momentous development in brain cancer research in terms of novel imaging-assisted surgeries, molecularly targeted drug-based treatment regimens or adjuvant therapies and in our understanding of molecular footprints of initiation and progression of malignancy. However, mortality due to brain cancer has essentially remained unchanged in the last three decades. Thus, paradigm-changing diagnostic and therapeutic reagents are urgently needed. Nanotheranostic platforms are powerful tools for imaging and treatment of cancer. Multifunctionality of these nanovehicles offers a number of advantages over conventional agents. These include targeting to a diseased site thereby minimizing systemic toxicity, the ability to solubilize hydrophobic or labile drugs leading to improved pharmacokinetics and their potential to image, treat and predict therapeutic response. In this article, we will discuss the application of newer theranostic nanoparticles in targeted brain cancer imaging and treatment.

Magnetic nanoparticles for treatment of gastric cancer

“…One series of IBD patients reported increasing risks of NMSC, but immunosuppression as a causative factor was not specifically evaluated. 7,8 In contrast, a prospective cohort study did not find an increase in skin cancer incidence in patients with ulcerative colitis. 9 More recent epidemiological studies continue to report contradictory results: Long and colleagues found that recent and ongoing exposure to thiopurines was associated with increased risk of NMSC, 10 while a Dutch study of 2887 patients reported that thiopurine use was not associated with increased risk of NMSC.…”

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Uses of Nanomaterials in the Brain

“…Nanoparticle size and the nature and number of linkers on the NP surface can be optimized to control not only both the loading and the release of the entrapped or covalently linked drug components, but also the crossing through the BBB [114]. DDS can also deliver contrast agents in effective concentrations to the brain, improving the efficacy of existing CNS imaging and treatment regimens [115].…”

“…In this case, the properties of nanomaterials may offer solutions to this drawback. The best treatment for brain tumor-targeted drug delivery should be able to transport the therapeutic agents at the brain tumor foci minimizing the involvement of healthy brain tissue as well as of peripheral tissues [115,193].…”

Critical Stages in the Development of the First Targeted, Injectable Molecular-Genetic Medicine for Cancer

“…Indeed, as the development and validation of the world's first (Waehler et al, 2007;Gordon and Hall, 2010), but no longer only (see Reximmune-C; Gordon et al, , 2008, tumortargeted genetic medicine is recognized, the promise and potential of the platform have begun to percolate into the general medical literature, impacting the practice of clinical oncology (Hughes, 2009), medical imaging (Bjojani et al, 2010), medicinal nanotechnology (Peach et al, 2009), and gene therapy (Sverdlov, 2009), as well as the discussions of bedside bioethics (Toh, 2011) and the practical applications of tumor immunology (Zolnik et al, 2010). Looking forward into the future, it is only a matter of time (see Gordon and Hall, 2009) when the progression of metastatic disease is no longer considered to be intractable, and the poor prognosis of chemotherapy-resistant cancer is summarily improved.…”