Novel Strategies for Nanotherapeutics against Cancers

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 1180

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Guest Editor
School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK
Interests: targeted therapeutics; combination therapeutics; cell and gene therapy; nanodrug delivery; cancer drug discovery; biosensors; molecular therapeutics; imaging
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotherapeutics, which encompasses the use of nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic agents specifically to cancer cells, represents a promising approach in the fight against cancer. The scope of novel strategies in nanotherapeutics to treat cancers is vast and continuously expanding. The potential for these strategies to improve the precision, effectiveness, and safety of cancer treatments is immense. As research and development efforts progress, we can expect to see more innovative approaches reaching clinical practice, offering new hope to cancer patients and transforming the landscape of cancer therapy. Advances in targeting strategies can lead to nanoparticles that specifically home in on cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues, resulting in more effective and less toxic treatments. Customised nanoparticles tailored to an individual's unique tumour characteristics have the potential to improve treatment outcomes and reduce adverse effects. In addition to such personalised therapies, combination therapies that integrate multiple therapeutic agents within a single nanoparticle delivery system can enhance treatment efficacy by addressing various aspects of cancer simultaneously. Similarly, nanoparticle-based gene editing and gene therapy can provide precise and targeted solutions for addressing genetic mutations that drive cancer progression as novel strategies in nanotherapeutics. All these methods address several unique approaches to cancer treatment, and this Special Issue will focus on the versatile features of the advances in nanotherapeutics in cancer treatment.

This Special Issue of Pharmaceutics, 'Novel Strategies for Nanotherapeutics against Cancers’, aims to summarise relevant work and serve to promote future developments in bioprocessing, nanotherapeutics and advances in cancer treatment using cell and gene therapy. To this end, we seek research contributions that address nanotherapeutics in cancer prognosis, treatment and further prophylaxis. Topics of interest include:

  • Nanoparticle engineering;
  • Targeted drug delivery;
  • Functionalisation and ligand modification;
  • Immunotherapy enhancement: nanoparticles can be designed to carry immunotherapeutic agents such as checkpoint inhibitors or vaccines;
  • Personalised medicine: the development of patient-specific nanoparticles is gaining momentum;
  • Combination therapy: nanoparticles enable the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents, allowing for combination therapy. This can include chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and immunotherapeutic agents delivered simultaneously to enhance treatment efficacy;
  • RNA and gene therapy: nanoparticles can deliver RNA-based therapeutics, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) or messenger RNA (mRNA), to modulate gene expression in cancer cells. Gene therapy via nanoparticles could be used to address various genetic mutations in cancer;
  • pH-responsive nanoparticles: pH-sensitive nanoparticles can release their cargo specifically in an acidic tumour microenvironment, enhancing drug release and reducing off-target effects;
  • Photothermal and photodynamic therapy: nanoparticles can be used for photothermal and photodynamic therapy. Gold nanoparticles, for example, can absorb light energy and convert it into heat to selectively destroy cancer cells. Similarly, photosensitising nanoparticles can generate reactive oxygen species under light exposure to induce cell death;
  • Enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect optimisation: strategies to improve the EPR effect, which allows nanoparticles to accumulate in tumours, are of particular interest. This includes using particle size, shape, and surface properties to maximise nanoparticle retention in the tumour tissue;
  • Biomimetic nanoparticles: biomimetic nanoparticles are designed to mimic the characteristics of cells or cellular components. These nanoparticles can evade the immune system, cross biological barriers, and target specific cell types more effectively;
  • Theranostic nanoparticles: theranostic nanoparticles combine therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities. They can deliver therapy while simultaneously imaging the tumour to monitor treatment response;
  • Nanoparticle–drug conjugates: conjugating drugs directly to nanoparticles can improve drug stability and control release kinetics. This strategy can enhance drug delivery and reduce systemic toxicity;
  • Smart nanoparticles: advanced nanoparticles can respond to specific cues within the body, such as temperature, enzyme activity, or the presence of certain molecules, triggering drug release or altering their properties accordingly;
  • Nanoparticle-induced immune responses: some nanoparticles can stimulate the immune system to recognise and attack cancer cells. This approach, known as immunogenic cell death, can be combined with other immunotherapies;
  • Clinical translation: many nanotherapeutics are advancing into clinical trials and gaining approval for cancer treatment. The transition from the laboratory to clinical practice is a significant development.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Sreejith Raveendran
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • targeted therapeutics
  • combination therapeutics
  • cell and gene therapy
  • nanodrug delivery
  • cancer drug discovery
  • biosensors
  • molecular therapeutics
  • molecular imaging
  • smart nanoparticles
  • biomimetic nanoparticles

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 3357 KiB  
Article
PRIMERS: Polydopamine Radioimmunotherapy with Image-Guided Monitoring and Enhanced Release System
by Shahinur Acter, Lindokuhle M. Ngema, Michele Moreau, Debarghya China, Akila Viswanathan, Kai Ding, Yahya E. Choonara, Sayeda Yasmin-Karim and Wilfred Ngwa
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(11), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16111481 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 716
Abstract
Background/Objectives: To overcome the side effects of conventional cancer treatment, multifunctional nanoparticles with image-guidance properties are increasingly desired to obtain enhanced therapeutic efficacy without any toxicity of the treatment. Herein, we introduce the potential of Polydopamine Radioimmunotherapy with Image-guided Monitoring and Enhanced (drug) [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: To overcome the side effects of conventional cancer treatment, multifunctional nanoparticles with image-guidance properties are increasingly desired to obtain enhanced therapeutic efficacy without any toxicity of the treatment. Herein, we introduce the potential of Polydopamine Radioimmunotherapy with Image-guided Monitoring and Enhanced (drug) Release System (PRIMERS) to meet the challenges of currently used cancer therapy. Methods: The PDA nanobowls were synthesized using an emulsion-induced interfacial anisotropic assembly method followed by surface modification with high-Z material to obtained the final product PRIMERS. Results: The engineered multifunctional nanosystem “PRIMERS” could serve as fiducial markers with the potential for use in combination cancer therapy. By leveraging the advantages of the excellent surface functionalization capability of PDA, the anisotropic nanostructure (PDA nanobowls) has been successfully functionalized with gadolinium, which shows strong MRI contrast signal both in vitro in phantom and in vivo in animals. The results of anti-cancer drug loading and releasing efficiency of these functionalized nanobowls are presented. Moreover, the gadolinium-coated PDA nanobowls demonstrate the capacity for loading immunotherapy drugs (Anti-CD40) with activated release in acidic pH levels characteristic of the tumor microenvironment, with enhanced release following administration of radiation therapy in vitro. Conclusions: Overall, the results highlight the potential of this new technology for combining radiotherapy with activated image-guided drug delivery, which offers broad opportunities to overcome current challenges in cancer treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Strategies for Nanotherapeutics against Cancers)
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