Functionalized Metal Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy

A narrative review on the use of Green synthesized metallic nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. While traditional and synthetic medical therapies are in place for cancer treatment, their effectiveness is hindered by various limitations, such as toxic side effects, limited availability, and high costs. In recent years, a promising alternative approach has emerged in the form of green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), which offer targeted cancer therapy. These nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention from cancer researchers owing to their natural or surface-induced anticancer properties, versatility of metals as agents, and eco-friendly nature. This approach may positively impact healthy cells surrounding the cancerous cells. Green-synthesized MNPs have gained popularity in cancer management because of their ease of handling in the laboratory and the affordability of starting materials compared to synthetic methods. This review analyzes green-synthesized MNPs for targeted cancer therapy, highlighting tumor-targeting strategies, synthesis methods, and clinical challenges. Unlike general reviews, it compares plant-, microbial-, and enzyme-mediated synthesis approaches, emphasizing their impact on nanoparticle stability, functionalization, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

The role of green synthesis metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in oral cancer therapy: a review

There are 275,000 new cases of oral cancer (OC) per year, making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. Severe adverse effects, including loss of function, deformity, and systemic toxicity, are familiar with traditional therapies such as radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery; due to their unique properties, nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a superior alternative over chemo/radiotherapy and surgery due to their targeting capability, bioavailability, compatibility, and high solubility. Due to their unique properties, metallic NPs have garnered significant attention in OC control. In addition to the fact that metal NPs may be harmful to human cells, the reactive chemicals used to make them pose the same risk, which limits their use in medicine. Green synthesis (GS) is a novel strategy that uses biological materials like yeast, bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts. Compared to more traditional chemical synthesis processes, these are more environmentally benign and manageable for living organisms. This article summarises the GS of NPs made of metals and metal oxides and their anticancer effects on OC. The method's potential benefits and drawbacks in advancing metallic NPs' GS and shaping OC therapy's future were also discussed.

Modification in Structures of Active Compounds in Anticancer Mitochondria-Targeted Therapy

Cancer is a multifaceted disease characterised by uncontrolled cellular proliferation and metastasis, resulting in significant global mortality. Current therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, face challenges such as systemic toxicity and tumour resistance. Recent advancements have shifted towards targeted therapies that act selectively on molecular structures within cancer cells, reducing off-target effects. Mitochondria have emerged as pivotal targets in this approach, given their roles in metabolic reprogramming, retrograde signalling, and oxidative stress, all of which drive the malignant phenotype. Targeting mitochondria offers a promising strategy to address these mechanisms at their origin. Synthetic derivatives of natural compounds hold particular promise in mitochondrial-targeted therapies. Innovations in drug design, including the use of conjugates and nanotechnology, focus on optimizing these compounds for mitochondrial specificity. Such advancements enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity, presenting a significant step forward in modern anticancer strategies.

How the Versatile Self-Assembly in Drug Delivery System to Afford Multimodal Cancer Therapy?

The rapid development of self-assembly technology during the past few decades has effectively addressed plenty of the issues associated with carrier-based drug delivery systems, such as low loading efficiency, complex fabrication processes, and inherent toxicity of carriers. The integration of nanoscale delivery systems with self-assembly techniques has enabled efficient and targeted self-administration of drugs, enhanced bioavailability, prolonged circulation time, and controllable drug release. Concurrently, the limitations of single-mode cancer treatment, including low bioavailability, poor therapeutic outcomes, and significant side effects, have highlighted the urgent need for multimodal combined antitumor therapies. Set against the backdrop of multimodal cancer therapy, this review summarizes the research progress and applications of a large number of self-assembled drug delivery platforms, including natural small molecule self-assembled, carrier-free self-assembled, amphiphilic polymer-based self-assembled, peptide-based self-assembled, and metal-based self-assembled nano drug delivery systems. This review particularly analyzes the latest advances in the application of self-assembled nano drug delivery platforms in combined antitumor therapies mediated by chemotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, sonodynamic therapy, and immunotherapy, providing innovative research insights for further optimization and expansion of self-assembled nano drug delivery systems in the clinical translation and development of antitumor combined therapy.

Advancing gastric cancer treatment: nanotechnology innovations and future prospects

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, particularly prevalent in Asia, especially in China, where both its incidence and mortality rates are significantly high. Meanwhile, nanotechnology has demonstrated great potential in the treatment of GC. In particular, nanodrug delivery systems have improved therapeutic efficacy and targeting through various functional modifications, such as targeting peptides, tumor microenvironment responsiveness, and instrument-based methods. For instance, silica (SiO2) has excellent biocompatibility and can be used as a drug carrier, with its porous structure enhancing drug loading capacity. Polymer nanoparticles regulate drug release rates and mechanisms by altering material composition and preparation methods. Lipid nanoparticles efficiently encapsulate hydrophilic drugs and promote cellular uptake, while carbon-based nanoparticles can be used in biosensors and drug delivery. Targets such as integrins, HER2 receptors, and the tumor microenvironment have been used to improve drug efficacy in GC treatment. Nanodrug delivery techniques not only enhance drug efficacy and delivery capabilities but also selectively target tumor cells. Currently, there is a lack of systematic summarization and synthesis regarding the relationship between nanodrug delivery systems and GC treatment, which to some extent hinders researchers and clinicians from efficiently searching for and referencing related studies, thereby reducing work efficiency. This study aims to systematically summarize the existing research on the relationship between nanodrug delivery systems and GC treatment, making it easier for professionals to search and reference, and thereby promoting further research on the role of nanodrug delivery systems and their clinical applications in GC. This review discusses the applications of functionalized nanocarriers in the treatment of GC in recent years, including surface modifications with targeted markers, the combination of phototherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, along with their advantages and challenges. It also examines the future prospects of targeted nanomaterials in GC treatment. The review particularly focuses on the combined application of nanocarriers in multiple treatment modalities, such as phototherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, demonstrating their potential in multimodal treatments. Furthermore, it thoroughly explores the specific challenges that nanocarriers face in GC treatment, such as biocompatibility, drug release control, and clinical translation issues, while providing a systematic outlook on future developments. Additionally, this study emphasizes the potential value and feasibility of nanocarriers in clinical applications, contrasting with most reviews that focus on basic research. Through these innovations, we offer new perspectives and directions for the development of nanotechnology in the treatment of GC.

In Vivo Synthetic Anticancer Approach by Resourcing Mouse Blood Albumin as a Biocompatible Artificial Metalloenzyme

Methods for producing drugs directly at the cancer site, particularly using bioorthogonal metal catalysts, are being explored to mitigate the side effects of therapy. Albumin-based artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) catalyze reactions in living mice while protecting the catalyst in the hydrophobic pocket. Here, we describe the in situ preparation and application of biocompatible tumor-targeting ArMs using circulating albumin, which is abundant in the bloodstream. The ArM was formed using blood albumin through the intravenous injection of ruthenium conjugated with an albumin-binding ligand; the tumor-targeting unit was conjugated to the ArM using its catalytic activity, and the ArM was transported to the cancer site. The delivered ArM catalyzed a second tagging reaction of the proapoptotic peptide on the cancer surface, successfully suppressing cancer proliferation. This approach, which efficiently leveraged the persisting reactivity twice in vivo, holds promise for future in vivo metal-catalyzed drug synthesis utilizing endogenous albumin.

Recent advances in copper homeostasis-involved tumor theranostics

As the third essential trace element in the human body, copper plays a crucial role in various physiological processes, which lays the foundation for its broad applications in cancer treatments. The overview of copper, including pharmacokinetics, signaling pathways, and homeostasis dysregulation, is hereby discussed. Additionally, cuproptosis, as a newly proposed cell death mechanism associated with copper accumulation, is analyzed and further developed for efficient cancer treatment. Different forms of Cu-based nanoparticles and their advantages, as well as limiting factors, are introduced. Moreover, the unique characteristics of Cu-based nanoparticles give rise to their applications in various imaging modalities. In addition, Cu-based nanomaterials are featured by their excellent photothermal property and ROS-associated tumor-killing potential, which are widely explored in diverse cancer therapies and combined therapies. Reducing the concentration of Cu2+/Cu+ is another cancer-killing method, and chelators can meet this need. More importantly, challenges and future prospects are identified for further research.

Targeting tumor-associated macrophages with nanocarrier-based treatment for breast cancer: A step toward developing innovative anti-cancer therapeutics

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumor advancement in many ways, such as inducing angiogenesis and the formation of new blood vessels that provide tumors with nourishment and oxygen. TAMs also facilitate tumor invasion and metastasis by secreting enzymes that degrade the extracellular matrix and generating pro-inflammatory cytokines that enhance the migration of tumor cells. TAMs also have a role in inhibiting the immune response against malignancies. To accomplish this, they release immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10, and TAMs can hinder the function of T cells and natural killer cells, which play crucial roles in the immune system's ability to combat cancer. The role of TAMs in breast cancer advancement is a complex and dynamic field of research. Therefore, TAMs are a highly favorable focus for innovative breast cancer treatments. This review presents an extensive overview of the correlation between TAMs and breast cancer development as well as its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) shedding light on their impact on tumor advancement and immune evasion mechanisms. Notably, our study provides an innovative approach to employing nanomedicine approaches for targeted TAM therapy in breast cancer, providing an in-depth overview of recent advances in this emerging field.

Synergistic therapeutic strategies and engineered nanoparticles for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in cancer

Angiogenesis is one of the defining characteristics of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is crucial for the development of angiogenesis. A growing interest in cancer therapy is being caused by the widespread use of antiangiogenic drugs in treating several types of human cancer. However, this therapeutic approach can worsen resistance, invasion, and overall survival. As we proceed, refining combination strategies and addressing the constraint of targeted treatments are paramount. Therefore, major challenges in using novel combinations of antiangiogenic agents with cytotoxic treatments are currently focused on illustrating the potential of synergistic therapeutic strategies, alongside advancements in nanomedicine and gene therapy, present opportunities for more precise interference with angiogenesis pathways and tumor environments. Nanoparticles have the potential to regulate several crucial activities and improve several drug limitations such as lack of selectivity, non-targeted cytotoxicity, insufficient drug delivery at tumor sites, and multi-drug resistance based on their unique features. The goal of this updated review is to illustrate the enormous potential of novel synergistic therapeutic strategies and the targeted nanoparticles as an alternate strategy for t treating a variety of tumors employing antiangiogenic therapy.