The Role of Nanomedicine in Benign Gynecologic Disorders

Abstract

Nanomedicine has revolutionized drug delivery in the last two decades. Nanoparticles appear to be a promising drug delivery platform in the treatment of various gynecological disorders including uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and menopause. Nanoparticles are tiny (mean size < 1000 nm), biodegradable, biocompatible, non-toxic, safe, and relatively inexpensive materials commonly used in imaging and the drug delivery of various therapeutics, such as chemotherapeutics, small molecule inhibitors, immune mediators, protein peptides and non-coding RNA. We performed a literature review of published studies to examine the role of nanoparticles in treating uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause. In uterine leiomyoma, nanoparticles containing 2-methoxyestradiole and simvastatin, promising uterine fibroid treatments, have been effective in significantly inhibiting tumor growth compared to controls in in vivo mouse models with patient-derived leiomyoma xenografts. Nanoparticles have also shown efficacy in delivering magnetic hyperthermia to ablate endometriotic tissue. Moreover, nanoparticles can be used to deliver hormones and have shown efficacy as a mechanism for transdermal hormone replacement therapy in individuals with menopause. In this review, we aim to summarize research findings and report the efficacy of nanoparticles and nanotherapeutics in the treatment of various benign gynecologic conditions.

Keywords: PCOS; endometriosis; menopause; nanomedicine; nanoparticles; uterine leiomyoma.

Figure 1

Nanoparticles can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of uterine leiomyoma, endometriosis, PCOS, and menopause. Studies have shown nanoparticles improve diagnostic options and/or patient symptoms for these benign gynecologic diseases. Figure created with Keynote.

Figure 2

Nanoparticles are a promising therapeutic; however, they are associated with potential toxicities. Nanoparticles may cross the blood–brain barrier, interact with coagulation pathways, induce endogenous cell changes, and promote an inflammatory response, though more research is needed to determine the full extent of these and other nanoparticle-related side effects. Figure created with Keynote.