Nanoparticle-Based Treatment Approaches for Skin Cancer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Nanoparticles have shown marked promise as both antineoplastic agents and drug carriers. Despite strides made in immunomodulation, low success rates and toxicity remain limitations within the clinical oncology setting. In the present review, we assess advances in drug delivery nanoparticles, for systemic and topical use, in skin cancer treatment. A systematic review of controlled trials, meta-analyses, and Cochrane review articles was conducted. Eligibility criteria included: (1) a primary focus on nanoparticle utility for skin cancer; (2) available metrics on prevention and treatment outcomes; (3) detailed subject population; (4) English language; (5) archived as full-text journal articles. A total of 43 articles were selected for review. Qualitative analysis revealed that nanoscale systems demonstrate significant antineoplastic and anti-metastasis properties: increased drug bioavailability, reduced toxicity, enhanced permeability and retention effect, as well as tumor growth inhibition, among others. Nanoformulations for skin cancers have largely lagged behind those tested in other cancers–several of which have commercialized formulae. However, emerging evidence has indicated a powerful role for these carriers in targeting primary and metastatic skin cancers.

Arsenic Nanoparticles Trigger Apoptosis via Anoikis Induction in OECM-1 Cells

“…Teraoka and co-workers found that using 1.0 nM of gold nanoparticles combined with 4 Gy X-ray irradiation significantly reduced the total number of cells compared to 4 Gy X-ray irradiation alone in the human head and neck carcinoma cell line HSC-3. Furthermore, chitosan has been used as a drug delivery system for skin cancer treatment, being a versatile polymer with favorable properties [62][63][64], even with some reports showing its capability to induce p53 expression [65], which is something that was also found in our qPCR results for OECM-1 cells treated with 0.03% chitosan. Similarly, there is evidence of an antiproliferative effect and apoptosis induction of arsenate and As 2 O 3 , on A375 melanoma-derived cells [66].…”

Niosomes: Composition, Formulation Techniques, and Recent Progress as Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy

“…The use of nanotechnology has been developed as a modality of overcoming the negative side effects of modern treatments, and the cosmetic industry is one of its main areas of application [ 88 ]. The remarkable treatment of skin cancer can be significantly improved by using nanomedicine, especially nanoparticles as therapeutic agents and drug carriers [ 18 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 ]. In addition, these cutting-edge nanotechnologies help to establish anticancer drugs, which enhance their bioavailability and controlled release [ 94 ].…”