Metallic nanoparticles as drug delivery system for the treatment of cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The targeted delivery of anticancer agents to tumor is a major challenge because most of the drugs show off-target effect resulting in nonspecific cell death. Multifunctionalized metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are explored as new carrier system in the era of cancer therapeutics. Researchers investigated the potential of metallic NPs to target tumor cells by active and passive mechanisms, thereby reducing off-target effects of anticancer agents. Moreover, photocatalytic activity of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect have also gained wide potential in cancer treatment. Recent advancement in the field of nanotechnology highlights their potency for cancer therapy.

Areas covered

This review summarizes the types of gold and silver metallic NPs with targeting mechanisms and their potentiality in cancer therapy. 

Expert opinion

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology for cancer therapy offer high specificity and targeting efficiency. Targeting tumor cells through mechanistic pathways using metallic NPs for the disruption/alteration of molecular profile and survival rate of the tumor cells has led to an effective approach for cancer therapeutics. This alteration in the survival rate of the tumor cells might decrease the proliferation thereby resulting in more efficient management in the treatment of cancer. 

KEYWORDS:

• Gold nanoparticle
• malignant tumor
• metallic nanoparticle
• nanocarrier
• silver nanoparticle
• theranostic

Article Highlights

• Current cancer therapeutics has become more customized as per the patient and specific types of tumours.

• This individualized treatment strategy involves the use of metallic nanoparticles for the treatment of cancer.

• Metallic nanoparticle probes are used as tumour-targeting entities capable of detection, imaging, diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

• Traditionally, functionalized metallic nanoparticles are designed to target the receptor on the cell surface of the tumor to avoid off-target adverse reactions.

• As the potential application of multifunctional metallic nanoparticles will tend to expand, the inclusion of oncological research, cancer imaging, diagnostic and site-specific drug delivery will be pre-eminent for the treatment of cancer.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

A sincere thanks to the Department of Science and Technology- Science and Engineering Research Board (DST- SERB) New Delhi, India for providing funds to conduct the research under DST-EMR scheme (Sanction No.- EMR/2017/003086)