Abstract
Cancer nanotherapeutics have shown promise in resolving some of the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems such as nonspecific biodistribution and targeting, lack of water solubility, low therapeutic indices, and poor oral bioavailability. Moreover, cancer nanotechnology has the potential of improving current approaches to cancer detection, diagnosis, and imaging. Recently, nanotechnology and molecular imaging have been combined to generate nanoparticles that simultaneously facilitate cancer therapy and diagnosis, the so called theragnostic nanoparticles. The aim of our review is to highlight recent developments within the context of the current knowledge of nanotechnology, to recall the experimental steps that have brought to the clinical development and application of nanoparticles, and explain the biological rationale for their use with oncologic patients. In particular, we summarize recent findings with respect to possible new applications for therapy and diagnosis, and their specific properties. Moreover, we report the more recent prospects in gene therapy, the possibility of using new drug delivery methods, the action of nanoparticles on the immune system and apoptosis, and the concrete possibility of detecting and characterizing circulating tumor cells or of developing new technologies in drug discovery.
Keywords: Drug delivery, gene therapy, imaging, nanoparticles, nanovectors, nanotechnology, theragnostic molecules, chitosan-based nanoparticles (CNPs), polyethylene glycol PEG, Docetaxel, Magnetic drug targeting (MDT)
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Nanoparticles in Oncology: The New Theragnostic Molecules
Volume: 11 Issue: 7
Author(s): Alessandro Allegra, Giuseppa Penna, Andrea Alonci, Vincenzo Rizzo, Sabina Russo and Caterina Musolino
Affiliation:
Keywords: Drug delivery, gene therapy, imaging, nanoparticles, nanovectors, nanotechnology, theragnostic molecules, chitosan-based nanoparticles (CNPs), polyethylene glycol PEG, Docetaxel, Magnetic drug targeting (MDT)
Abstract: Cancer nanotherapeutics have shown promise in resolving some of the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems such as nonspecific biodistribution and targeting, lack of water solubility, low therapeutic indices, and poor oral bioavailability. Moreover, cancer nanotechnology has the potential of improving current approaches to cancer detection, diagnosis, and imaging. Recently, nanotechnology and molecular imaging have been combined to generate nanoparticles that simultaneously facilitate cancer therapy and diagnosis, the so called theragnostic nanoparticles. The aim of our review is to highlight recent developments within the context of the current knowledge of nanotechnology, to recall the experimental steps that have brought to the clinical development and application of nanoparticles, and explain the biological rationale for their use with oncologic patients. In particular, we summarize recent findings with respect to possible new applications for therapy and diagnosis, and their specific properties. Moreover, we report the more recent prospects in gene therapy, the possibility of using new drug delivery methods, the action of nanoparticles on the immune system and apoptosis, and the concrete possibility of detecting and characterizing circulating tumor cells or of developing new technologies in drug discovery.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Allegra Alessandro, Penna Giuseppa, Alonci Andrea, Rizzo Vincenzo, Russo Sabina and Musolino Caterina, Nanoparticles in Oncology: The New Theragnostic Molecules, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 11 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152011796817682
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152011796817682 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Signaling in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure
Current Pharmaceutical Design Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors: New Potential Therapeutic Targets in Antinociception and in Cancer Therapy
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) The Effect of a Ferrocene Containing Camphor Sulfonamide DK-164 on Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Autofluorescence of Breast Cancer Proteins
Current Metabolomics A Glimpse of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Diabetic Nephropathy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Healthy Diet and Reduction of Chronic Disease Risks of Night Shift Workers
Current Medicinal Chemistry Editorial (Thematic Issue: Medicinal Chemistry of Aptamers)
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Hydrogen Sulfide as a New Endogenous Gaseous Transmitter in the Cardiovascular System
Current Vascular Pharmacology Apoptosis: Mediator Molecules, Interplay with Other Cell Death Processes and Therapeutic Potentials
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Melatonin and Melatoninergic Drugs as Therapeutic Agents: Ramelteon and Agomelatine, the Two Most Promising Melatonin Receptor Agonists
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Polyamines in the Surface of Lipid Micelles Improve the Cellular Uptake of Antitumoral Agents
Current Biotechnology Biological and Toxicological Evaluation of N-(4methyl-phenyl)-4-methylphthalimide on Bone Cancer in Mice
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Clinical and Immunological Features of Patients with Primary Antibody Deficiencies
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets The Biphasic Expression Pattern of miR-200a and E-cadherin in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and its Correlation with Clinicopathological Features
Current Pharmaceutical Design Tumor Systems Need to be Rendered Usable for a New Action-Theoretical Abstraction: The Starting Point for Novel Therapeutic Options
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews The Role of COX-2 in Acute Pain and the Use of Selective COX-2 Inhibitors for Acute Pain Relief
Current Pharmaceutical Design Health Disparities in Women's Health: Current Findings and Future Directions
Current Women`s Health Reviews On the Nature of the Tumor-Initiating Cell
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy The Effect of p53-R249S on the Suppression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Survival Induced by Podophyllum Derivatives
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry α-Lipoic Acid Supplementation: A Tool for Obesity Therapy?
Current Pharmaceutical Design