Nanoparticulate Strategies for The Delivery of miRNA Mimics and Inhibitors in Anticancer Therapy and its Potential Utility in Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring noncoding RNAs with multiple functionalities. They are dysregulated in several conditions and can serve as disease biomarkers, therapeutic targets and therapeutic agents. Translation of miRNA therapeutics to the clinic poses several challenges related to the safe and effective delivery of these agents to the site of action. Nanoparticulate carriers hold promise in this area by enhancing targeting efficiency and reducing off-target effects. This paper reviews recent advances in the delivery strategies of miRNAs in anticancer therapy, with a focus on lipid-based, polymeric, inorganic platforms, cell membrane-derived vesicles and bacterial minicells. Additionally, this review explores the potentiality of miRNAs in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis, a potentially premalignant condition of the oral cavity with no definitive treatment to date.

Keywords::

• cancer/oncology
• gene/drug delivery
• liposomes
• miRNA
• nanoparticles
• oral cancer
• oral submucous fibrosis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India sanction order no. ‘EMR/2017/002792’ dated 25 September 2018 supported this work. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India sanction order no. ‘EMR/2017/002792’ dated 25 September 2018 supported this work. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.