Interventional Nanotheranostics of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for over 90% of all pancreatic cancer. Nanoparticles (NPs) offer new opportunities for image-guided therapy owing to the unique physicochemical properties of the nanoscale effect and the multifunctional capabilities of NPs. However, major obstacles exist for NP-mediated cancer theranostics, especially in PDAC. The hypovascular nature of PDAC may impede the deposition of NPs into the tumor after systemic administration, and most NPs localize predominantly in the mononuclear phagocytic system, leading to a relatively poor tumor-to-surrounding-organ uptake ratio. Image guidance combined with minimally invasive interventional procedures may help circumvent these barriers to poor drug delivery of NPs in PDAC. Interventional treatments allow regional drug delivery, targeted vascular embolization, direct tumor ablation, and the possibility of disrupting the stromal barrier of PDAC. Interventional treatments also have potentially fewer complications, faster recovery, and lower cost compared with conventional therapies. This work is an overview of current image-guided interventional cancer nanotheranostics with specific attention given to their applications for the management of PDAC.

PLGA‐PNIPAM Microspheres Loaded with the Gastrointestinal Nutrient NaB Ameliorate Cardiac Dysfunction by Activating Sirt3 in Acute Myocardial Infarction

“…Biodegradable, hydrophobic polymers are the most common materials for microsphere design, and they contain a single material,24, 25, 26 such as PLGA, ketal, polylactic acid (PLA), and chitosan microspheres, or a composite material,27, 28, 29 such as PLGA‐PEI microspheres, the characteristics of these microspheres are biocompatibility, security, nontoxicity, and rapid degradation. The other microspheres are mainly loaded with polypeptides and siRNA,30, 31, 32 such as liposome microspheres, and the main features of these microspheres are rapid degradation and absorption by cells through endocytosis, which can contribute to the release of polypeptides and siRNA.…”

Pancreatic cancer stem cells: Perspectives on potential therapeutic approaches of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

“…For these reasons, polymeric and nanogel drug conjugates, characterized by controlled drug release and higher drug loading capacity, provide a better strategy. Other challenges that must be addressed in the future for clinical use of NPs concern inefficient delivery, inherent toxicity, off-target effects, unfavourable biological distribution, and lack of clearance from the systemic circulation[96]. In conclusion, even if further research is needed for the development of efficient NPs, it is possible to speculate that the targeted delivery system for anti-cancer agents will be translated into clinical practice.…”

Radiotheranostics: a roadmap for future development

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