Nanotechnology for Cancer Therapy Based on Chemotherapy

Abstract

Chemotherapy has been widely applied in clinics. However, the therapeutic potential of chemotherapy against cancer is seriously dissatisfactory due to the nonspecific drug distribution, multidrug resistance (MDR) and the heterogeneity of cancer. Therefore, combinational therapy based on chemotherapy mediated by nanotechnology, has been the trend in clinical research at present, which can result in a remarkably increased therapeutic efficiency with few side effects to normal tissues. Moreover, to achieve the accurate pre-diagnosis and real-time monitoring for tumor, the research of nano-theranostics, which integrates diagnosis with treatment process, is a promising field in cancer treatment. In this review, the recent studies on combinational therapy based on chemotherapy will be systematically discussed. Furthermore, as a current trend in cancer treatment, advance in theranostic nanoparticles based on chemotherapy will be exemplified briefly. Finally, the present challenges and improvement tips will be presented in combination therapy and nano-theranostics.

Keywords: cancer; chemotherapy; combination therapy; nanoparticles; theranostic nanoparticles.

Figure 1

Synthesis and preparation scheme of PMs (PMs, polymeric microspheres; CTS, chitosan; OA, oleic acid; OA-CTS, OA-conjugated CTS; EDC, 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride; NHS, N-hydroxysuccinimide; PTX, paclitaxel; TPP, sodium tripolyphosphate; QUE, quercetin; PTX-OA-CNPs, nanoparticles loaded with PTX; QUE-OACNPs, nanoparticles loaded with QUE); reproduced with the permission from [59], Copyright (2017) DOVE Medical Press.

Figure 2

(a) Schematic illustration of composition/structure of the HA-Hybrid NPs, and its binding to CD44 on breast cancer stem cells (bCSCs); (b) The cell viability of MCF7 mammosphere cells after treated with different drug formulations at varying concentration for 48 h; (c) the relative volume of the mammosphere at the end of treatment (volume normalized to that at 0 day); (d) the tumor weight at the experimental end point (20th day); reproduced with the permission from [75], Copyright (2017) The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Figure 3

(a) A schematic illustration to show the preparation of ¹³¹I-HSA-PTX nanoparticles for in vivo combined chemo-RIT; (b) The blood circulation profiles of ¹³¹I-HSA and ¹³¹I-HSA-PT; (c) Confocal fluorescence micrographs of tumor slices collected from mice injected with Cy5.5-labeled HSA, HSA-PTX or cross-linked HSA. The red signals were from the fluorescence of anti-CD31-stained blood vessels; (d) Tumor growth curves of mice with different treatments given at day 0, 4, 8 and 12; reproduced with the permission from [106], Copyright (2017) Ivyspring International Publisher.

Figure 4

LDL–NSC–SS–UA micelles co-delivering BCRP siRNA and PTX for reversing MDR (BCRP: breast cancer resistance protein; GSH: glutathione; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; LDLr: LDLreceptor; mRNA: messenger RNA; NSC–SS–UA: N-succinyl chitosan–cystamine–urocanic acid; PTX: paclitaxel; RISC: RNA-induced silencing complex; siRNA: small interfering RNA); reproduced with the permission from [133], Copyright (2017) DOVE Medical Press.

Figure 5

(a) Schematic illustration of the preparation of Ce6-CPT-UCNPs and concept of the light-regulated ROS-activated Ce6-CPT-UCNPs, OM: oleylamine; (b) Synthesis of ROS-responsive camptothecin, the product was abbreviated as TL-CPT; reproduced with the permission from [165], Copyright (2017) Ivyspring International Publisher.

Figure 6

(a) Schematic illustration of the sequential drug release in vitro; (b) Stimuli-responsive DOX release profiles of different samples irradiated with or without NIR laser irradiation in pH = 5.0 or pH = 7.4 aqueous solution; (c) Cell viability of U87MG cancer cells treated with rGO-AuNRVe-DOX and DOX with and without 808 nm laser irradiation at a power density of 0.25 W/cm²; (d) Relative tumor volume of the tumor-bearing mice after intravenous injection of the samples and exposed to the 808 nm laser at different power densities. Tumor volumes were normalized to their initial sizes; reproduced with the permission from [197], Copyright (2015) American Chemical Society.