Challenges of nanoparticle engineering for cancer therapeutics

摘要

Nanoparticles (NPs) are rapidly emerging as very promising tools for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs as their ultrasmall size, combined with certain unique, size-dependent properties, can be exploited as tools to develop more effective therapies [1]. As an example, a common goal is the development of drug nanocarriers capable of simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer. These theranostie nanocarriers' (where theranostic = therapy and diagnostic) will be able to home in on a tumor, assist in its diagnosis and concomkantly provide treatment by localized release of one or even multiple anti-cancer drugs [2]. There is great hope that these new therapeutic agents will be significantly more effective than small-molecule anticancer drugs. A glimpse of this anticipated therapeutic superiority is given by the first-generation of clinically available nanocarriers such as Doxil~R (liposomal doxorubicin) and Abraxane~R (albumin-bound paclitaxel). As second-generation nanocarriers are now being developed and our knowledge of their interaction with biological systems deepens, several challenges are emerging, especially concerning our limited control over their biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and tumor targeting [3].