Recent Advances in the Use of Metallic Nanoparticles with Antitumoral Action - Review

Abstract

The term cancer represents a set of more than 100 diseases that are caused due to an uncontrolled growth of cells; and their subsequent spread to the other tissues and organs of the body by a phenomenon, called 'metastasis'. According to the estimates provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is expected to account for about 10 million deaths per year by 2020, and 21 million cancer cases, which may lead to 13 million deaths by 2030, making cancer as the cause of highest mortality in contrast to other diseases. The search for potential therapeutics against cancer, which can reduce the side-effects that occur due to the difficulty of recognition between cancerous and normal cells, has ever been increased. In this view, nanotechnology, especially metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), comes to aid in the development of novel therapeutic agents, which may be synthesized or modified with the most diverse functional chemical groups; this property makes the metallic nanoparticles suitable for conjugation with already known drugs or prospective drug candidates. The biocompatibility, relatively simple synthesis, size flexibility and easy chemical modification of its surface, all make the metallic nanoparticles highly advantageous for opportune diagnosis and therapy of cancer. The present article analyzes and reports the anti-tumor activities of 78 papers of various metallic nanoparticles, particularly the ones containing copper, gold, iron, silver, and titanium in their composition.

Silver Nanoparticles Derived by Artemisia arborescens Reveal Anticancer and Apoptosis-Inducing Effects

“…For instance, nanoparticles can be useful to improve pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of existing anticancer compounds and combining cancer therapies [44,45]. In this context, several metallic nanoparticles have shown considerable interesting antitumoral activity against human cancer cells [46]. Among them, AgNPs, thanks to their peculiar physical-chemical features, have shown intrinsic antiproliferative activity [47].…”

Silver nanoparticles: Synthesis, medical applications and biosafety

“…In recent years, nanoparticles have attracted more attention in cancer therapeutics due to their special physical and chemical properties, which gives rise to a new field of anticancer—cancer nanomedicine 205 , 206 . Compared to traditional anticancer agents, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) can be used as novel therapeutic agents or drug carriers in combination with drug candidates, and undesirable side-effects can be prevented by providing a targeted approach 207 . Among these nanoparticles, AgNPs represent an ideal one in the search for anticancer or antitumor therapeutic agents 207 .…”

“…Compared to traditional anticancer agents, metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) can be used as novel therapeutic agents or drug carriers in combination with drug candidates, and undesirable side-effects can be prevented by providing a targeted approach 207 . Among these nanoparticles, AgNPs represent an ideal one in the search for anticancer or antitumor therapeutic agents 207 .…”

Size, shape, charge and “stealthy” surface: Carrier properties affect the drug circulation time in vivo

“…More than 100 years ago, Paul Ehrlich envisioned an ideal drug carrier with following characteristics: long circulation duration/time, targeting ability, drug loading and drug release capacity, and bio-compatibility and non-toxicity [6] . Based on this assumption, with the continuous development of science and technology, various types of drug carriers have been prepared, such as nanomaterials [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , controlled-release microspheres [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , natural cell membranes [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] etc. These drug carriers can deliver not only small molecule drugs but also biological macromolecules, such as peptides and proteins.…”