Nanotechnology in the war against cancer: new arms against an old enemy – a clinical view

Abstract

Clinical oncology is facing a paradigm shift. A new treatment philosophy is emerging and new targets are appearing that require new active agents. The medical use of nanotechnology - nanomedicine - holds several promising possibilities in the war against cancer. Some of these include: new formats for old drugs, that is, increasing efficacy while diminishing side effects; and new administration routes - that is, dermal, oral and pulmonary. In this overview, we describe some nanoparticles and their medical uses as well as highlight advantages of nanoparticles compared with conventional pharmaceuticals. We also point to some of the many technical challenges and potential risks with using nanotechnology for oncological applications.

Magnetic Nanoparticles in Medicine: Progress, Problems, and Advances

“…At the same time, the biological environment affecting the drug during its delivery to the diseased organ should not change its therapeutic properties. However, when even encapsulated or surface-modified MNPs enter the blood, due to opsonization, their surface is quickly covered with a “biocorona” consisting mainly of protein and lipid molecules, which significantly affects their stability, involvement in metabolism, including the time of excretion from the body, and its immune response [ 114 , 228 , 229 ]. The details of the interaction of MNP-containing medicinal agents injected into the patient’s body and various biological structures may significantly depend on the individual characteristics of the organism and, therefore, should be carefully studied in clinical trials on a significant number of volunteers.…”

Evaluation of β-cyclodextrin-modified gemini surfactant-based delivery systems in melanoma models

“…Nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been used for the past two decades to improve drug solubility and pharmacokinetic profile of a series of chemotherapeutics. 1 Their potential applicability is broad, given the successes achieved to date, such as Abraxane (nanoparticle albumin bound paclitaxel), Doxil ® (liposomal doxorubicin), DaunoXome ® (liposomal daunorubicin), and Marqibo cellular uptake of the drug; that is, overcome barriers such as the epithelial tight junctions and permeate protective barriers such as the stratum corneum of the skin. 4 At the tissue level, they can improve the accumulation of the drug at the target site and achieve tumor targeting.…”