Conventional chemotherapeutic approaches in cancer therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have several disadvantages due to their nontargeted distributions in the whole body. On the other hand, nanoparticles (NPs) based therapies are remarkably progressing to solve several limitations of conventional drug delivery systems (DDSs) including nonspecific biodistribution and targeting, poor water solubility, weak bioavailability and biodegradability, low pharmacokinetic properties, and so forth. The enhanced permeability and retention effect escape from Pglycoprotein trap in cancer cells as a passive targeting mechanism, and active targeting strategies are also other most important advantages of NPs in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Folic acid (FA) is one of the biologic molecules which has been targeted overexpressed-folic acid receptor (FR) on the surface of cancer cells. Therefore, conjugation of FA to NPs most easily enhances the FR-mediated targeting delivery of therapeutic agents. Here, the recent works in FA which have been decorated NPs-based DDSs are discussed and cancer therapy potency of these NPs in clinical trials are presented. K E Y W O R D Scancer diagnosis and therapy, folic acid, nanoparticles, nanotechnology, targeted drug delivery

With the advent of complex and precise radiation therapy techniques, the use of relatively small fields is needed. Using such field sizes can cause uncertainty in dosimetry; therefore, special attention is required both in dose calculations and measurements. There are several challenges in small-field dosimetry such as the steep gradient of the radiation field, volume averaging effect, lack of charged particle equilibrium, partial occlusion of radiation source, beam alignment, and unable to use a reference dosimeter. Due to these challenges, special dosimeters are needed for small-field dosimetry, and this review article discusses this topic.

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Purpose In this study, we evaluated the renal protective effects of montelukast (MLK) against ionizing radiation (IR) induced nephrotoxicity in mice. Materials and Methods Radioprotective effects of MLK were assessed by biochemical analysis including measurements of kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and serum creatinine and urea levels. Besides, for further evaluation of protective effects of MLK on renal system, 99mTc‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) has been applied. The total antioxidant capacity of MLK was measured by using 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl hydrazyl radical reagents and compared with butylated hydroxyl toluene standard antioxidant. Results The biochemical evaluation revealed that better results have been achieved for the groups administered with MLK than the only radiation group. Besides only IR‐treated mice group, those treated with MLK demonstrated a significant decrease in urea and creatinine levels. Statistically, significant differences of MDA and SHG levels (P < .05) were found between the radiation group and MLK plus IR‐treated group. Also, 99mTc‐DMSA kidney uptake value (%ID/g) was observed lower for MLK plus IR‐treated mice group than only radiation‐treated mice group. Conclusions According to our findings, MLK has a potential role to be used as a renal protective agent against gamma radiation in radiotherapy.