Nanoparticles as phytochemical carriers for cancer treatment: News of the last decade

ABSTRACT

Introduction

The development and application of novel therapeutic medicines for the treatment of cancer are of vital importance to improve the disease<apos;>s outcome and survival rate. One noteworthy treatment approach is the use of biologically active compounds present in natural products. Even though these phytocompounds present anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, their use is limited essentially due to poor systemic delivery, low bioavailability, and water solubility concerns. To make full use of the anticancer potential of natural products, these limitations need to be technologically addressed. In this sense, nanotechnology emerges as a promising drug delivery system strategy.

Areas covered

In this review, the benefits and potential of nanodelivery systems for natural products encapsulation as promising therapeutic approaches for cancer, which were developed during the last decade, are highlighted.

Expert opinion

The nanotechnology area has been under extensive research in the medical field given its capacity for improving the therapeutic potential of drugs by increasing their bioavailability and allowing a targeted delivery to the tumor site. Thereby, the nanoencapsulation of phytocompounds can have a direct impact on the recognized therapeutic activity of natural products towards cancer.

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• drug delivery systems
• nanoparticles
• natural products
• phytochemicals

Article highlights

• Natural products constitute an appealing source of compounds that have unique mechanisms of action, which have raised great interest in the medical and pharmaceutical areas, with special attention regarding their use as anticancer drugs.

• Using nanotechnology for the delivery of natural products represents a promising approach in cancer medicine, as it provides high solubility and enhances the bioavailability of the drug(s).

• Several nanoformulations have been investigated as delivery carriers for phytomolecules, such as liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, albumin, and metallic nanoparticles.

• In this review, the health benefits and properties of selected natural products are discussed and novel nanotechnology-based formulations for their improved delivery to tumor sites are detailed.

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

The authors would like to thank the support provided by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), through the following projects: UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020 (CIBB) Strategic Projects; COA/BRB/0019/2019 (CoaMedPlants). M.M. is supported by a Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) PhD grant (Reference: SFRH/BD/146441/2019). This PhD grant is financed by national budget and co-financed through the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Regional Operational Por_Centro.