Nanoparticle‐based targeted cancer strategies for non‐invasive prostate cancer intervention

Abstract

Prostate cancer is screened by testing circulating levels of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) biomarker, monitoring changes over time, or a digital rectal exam. Abnormal results often lead to prostate biopsy. Prostate cancer positive patients are stratified into very low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk, based on clinical classification parameters, to assess therapy options. However, there remains a gap in our knowledge and a compelling need for improved risk stratification to inform clinical decisions and reduce both over-diagnosis and over-treatment. Further, current strategies for clinical intervention do not distinguish clinically aggressive prostate cancer from indolent disease. This mini-review takes advantage of a large number of functionally characterized microRNAs (miRNA), epigenetic regulators of prostate cancer, that define prostate cancer cell activity, tumor stage, and circulate as biomarkers to monitor disease progression. Nanoparticles provide an effective platform for targeted delivery of miRNA inhibitors or mimics specifically to prostate tumor cells to inhibit cancer progression. Several prostate–specific transmembrane proteins expressed at elevated levels in prostate tumors are under investigation for targeting therapeutic agents to prostate cancer cells. Given that prostate cancer progresses slowly, circulating miRNAs can be monitored to identify tumor progression in indolent disease, allowing identification of miRNAs for nanoparticle intervention before the crucial point of transition to aggressive disease. Here, we describe clinically significant and non-invasive intervention nanoparticle strategies being used in clinical trials for drug and nucleic acid delivery. The advantages of mesoporous silica-based nanoparticles and a number of candidate miRNAs for inhibition of prostate cancer are discussed.

Paclitaxel Magnetic Core–Shell Nanoparticles Based on Poly(lactic acid) Semitelechelic Novel Block Copolymers for Combined Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy Treatment of Cancer

“…These nano-based systems may be prepared from either organic (such as biocompatible polymers), or inorganic (such as iron oxides) materials, although recent attempts are focused on the development of novel systems combining both [3,4,5]. Generally, nanoparticles suited for targeted cancer therapy have a particle size between 1 and 200 nanometers and, depending on the materials used and the manufacturing process employed, they may possess unique physicochemical and mechanical properties [6,7,8,9]. These properties may be tailored to meet specific requirements by altering several attributes such as nanoparticle composition, size, shape, surface morphology, etc.…”

MicroRNA Therapeutics in Cancer: Current Advances and Challenges

“…Moreover, high circulating levels of miR-221 were detected in patients with PCa. This has led Farina et al to propose a therapeutic approach consisting of miR-221 inhibitor encapsulation into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) [ 111 ]. MSN are biocompatible nanoparticles with a high molecular loading capacity and a possible controlled release of payload.…”

“…MSN are biocompatible nanoparticles with a high molecular loading capacity and a possible controlled release of payload. MiR-221 mimic-loaded MSN were successfully delivered to PC3 cell lines where they recapitulated the biological effects of miR-221 [ 111 ]. The anti-tumor function of miR-205 was highlighted in prostate cancer using magnetic iron oxide core nanoparticles coated with PEG-PEI layers [ 112 ].…”

Silica-Based Nanoframeworks Involved Hepatocellular Carcinoma Theranostic

“…Up to now, several reviews have summarized and analyzed the nano drug-delivery systems (nDDS) developed based on MSNs, fully demonstrating the potentials of this material in oncology diagnosis and treatment ( Tao et al, 2020 ; Gao et al, 2020 ; Mohamed Isa et al, 2021 ). However, most of these reviews summarized MSNs as multi-functional drug carriers ( Paris and Vallet-Regí, 2020 ; Mohamed Isa et al, 2021 ) or stimuli-responsive delivery platforms ( Li et al, 2019a ; Barui and Cauda, 2020 ; Živojević et al, 2021 ) for the treatment of tumors and other diseases such as osteosarcoma ( Quadros et al, 2021 ), breast cancer ( Poonia et al, 2018 ), glioblastoma ( Nam et al, 2018 ), prostate cancer ( Farina et al, 2018 ), atherosclerosis ( Sha et al, 2021 ) and rheumatoid arthritis ( Madav et al, 2020 ). Few of them have noticed that the framework of silica-based nanoplatforms (SNFs) can also take a leading part in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.…”