Nanotechnology in cancer therapeutics: bioconjugated nanoparticles for drug delivery

Abstract

Nanotechnology refers to the interactions of cellular and molecular components and engineered materialstypically, clusters of atoms, molecules, and molecular fragments into incredibly small particles-between 1 and 100 nm. Nanometer-sized particles have novel optical, electronic, and structural properties that are not available either in individual molecules or bulk solids. The concept of nanoscale devices has led to the development of biodegradable self-assembled nanoparticles, which are being engineered for the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and imaging contrast agents. Nanoconstructs such as these should serve as customizable, targeted drug delivery vehicles capable of ferrying large doses of chemotherapeutic agents or therapeutic genes into malignant cells while sparing healthy cells. Such ''smart'' multifunctional nanodevices hold out the possibility of radically changing the practice of oncology, allowing easy detection and then followed by effective targeted therapeutics at the earliest stages of the disease. In this article, we briefly discuss the use of bioconjugated nanoparticles for the delivery and targeting of anticancer drugs.

“Combo” nanomedicine: Co-delivery of multi-modal therapeutics for efficient, targeted, and safe cancer therapy

“…Through the utilization of various nanoformulations, many of the issues associated with the use of free drugs have been addressed via tunable release of therapeutics, enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, modifications for superior targeted delivery, and ease of incorporation of multiple agents with differing solubility profiles [16][17][18]. Tunable release has been a major component of the recent boom in nanomedicine research, as stimuli-responsive carriers are optimized to release payload only upon certain cues either intracellularly or within the microenvironment of tumors and can potentially lower systemic toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents [19][20][21].…”

Molecular tumor targeting of gelonin by fusion with F3 peptide

“…Various molecular markers, selectively expressed on tumor cell surfaces, that distinguish tumor cells from normal cells provide the basis for the design of targeted, molecular-based cancer therapies. To date, various approaches based on ligand-targeted therapeutics (ie, antibodies, tumor-homing peptides or small molecular ligands) that can specifically bind to tumor-associated markers (ie, receptors) have been utilized to selectively kill tumor cells [4][5][6] . As an active targeting tool, antibodies bound to the cell surface antigens can promote the induction of antitumor immune responses by manipulating tumor-related signaling [7] or concentrate conjugated drug molecules to tumor cells expressing specific antigens [8,9] .…”

Synthesis of Diagnostic Silicon Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Thiourea to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Expressing Cancer Cells

“…[2][3] In efforts to develop targeted anticancer drugs, it is essential to consider many different aspects of molecular biology, such as the interactions with cell surface receptors. [4][5] Protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) have been identified as major contributors in numerous signal transduction pathways within cell membranes and are implicated in cell proliferation. [6][7] Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase is one of the most important PTKs and plays a key role in a wide diversity of biological processes, including cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis.…”