Smart nanoparticles and microbeads for interventional embolization therapy of liver cancer: state of the art

Abstract

The process of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization is characterized by the ability to accurately deliver chemotherapy drugs with minimal systemic side effects and has become the standard treatment for unresectable intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, this treatment option still has much room for improvement, one of which may be the introduction of nanomaterials, which exhibit unique functions and can be applied to in vivo tumor imaging and therapy. Several biodegradable and multifunctional nanomaterials and nanobeads have recently been developed and applied in the locoregional treatment of hepatocellular cancer. This review explores recent developments and findings in relation to micro-nano medicines in transarterial therapy for HCC, emerging strategies to improve the efficacy of delivering nano-based medicines, and expounding prospects for clinical applications of nanomaterials.

The improving strategies and applications of nanotechnology-based drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

“…Using the reactivity of nanoparticles to external stimuli such as ultrasound and heat, the combination of interventional therapy and these properties forms interventional nanotherapeutics. The nano-drug delivery system could improve the targeting and stability of chemotherapy drugs in TACE and improve the efficacy of anti-HCC ( Wu S. et al, 2023 ). TACE combined with a sorafenib nanodrug delivery system can effectively reduce the toxicity of monotherapy and improve the disease control rate ( Su, 2021 ).…”

Engineering polyvinyl alcohol microspheres with capability for use in photothermal/chemodynamic therapy for enhanced transarterial chemoembolization

“…Therefore, engineering the design of microspheres to carry PTT and CDT agents allows for localized delivery, effectively addressing the challenges of TACE microspheres' drug resistance and potential harm to normal tissues. 22,23 As a proof of concept, a multifunctional microsphere system was developed for TACE application (Scheme 1). This system involved the engineering of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microspheres to serve as carriers for three different functionalities: mitoxantrone (MIT) as a chemotherapeutic drug, polypyrrole (PPY) as a PTT agent, and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 ) as a chemodynamic therapy CDT agent.…”

“…Therefore, engineering the design of microspheres to carry PTT and CDT agents allows for localized delivery, effectively addressing the challenges of TACE microspheres’ drug resistance and potential harm to normal tissues. 22,23…”

Janus particle-engineered structural lipiodol droplets for arterial embolization

“…Liquid embolic materials, such as lipiodol, are promising to flow to finer vasculatures and show a good capacity for radiography and drug loading, which has attracted particular attention for tumor chemoembolization over the past several decades 17 , 18 . However, these lipiodol systems are highly unstable in the blood and remain limited by, e.g., their recanalization, non-specific embolization, toxicity, etc 19 – 22 . Therefore, there is a critical need for new embolic materials that can adapt to the architectures of the blood vessels for efficient arterial embolization.…”