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.
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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 |
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