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Review
. 2025 Feb 6;17(2):205.
doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics17020205.

Nanostructured Formulations for a Local Treatment of Cancer: A Mini Review About Challenges and Possibilities

Tatiane Roquete Amparo  1 , Tamires Cunha Almeida  2 , Lucas Resende Dutra Sousa  1 , Viviane Flores Xavier  1 , Glenda Nicioli da Silva  1 , Geraldo Célio Brandão  1 , Orlando David Henrique Dos Santos  1
Affiliations
Review

Nanostructured Formulations for a Local Treatment of Cancer: A Mini Review About Challenges and Possibilities

Tatiane Roquete Amparo et al. Pharmaceutics. .

Abstract

Cancer represents a significant societal, public health, and economic challenge. Conventional chemotherapy is based on systemic administration; however, it has current limitations, including poor bioavailability, high-dose requirements, adverse side effects, low therapeutic indices, and the development of multiple drug resistance. These factors underscore the need for innovative strategies to enhance drug delivery directly to tumours. However, local treatment also presents significant challenges, including the penetration of the drug through endothelial layers, tissue density in the tumour microenvironment, tumour interstitial fluid pressure, physiological conditions within the tumour, and permanence at the site of action. Nanotechnology represents a promising alternative for addressing these challenges. This narrative review elucidates the potential of nanostructured formulations for local cancer treatment, providing illustrative examples and an analysis of the advantages and challenges associated with this approach. Among the nanoformulations developed for the local treatment of breast, bladder, colorectal, oral, and melanoma cancer, polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, lipid nanoparticles, and nanohydrogels have demonstrated particular efficacy. These systems permit mucoadhesion and enhanced tissue penetration, thereby increasing the drug concentration at the tumour site (bioavailability) and consequently improving anti-tumour efficacy and potentially reducing adverse effects. In addition to studies indicating chemotherapy, nanocarriers can be used as a theranostic approach and in combination with irradiation methods.

Keywords: cancer; local treatment; nanoformulations; nanotechnology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Advantages and limitations of systemic and local administration of anticancer agents and the potential of nanotechnology to address the challenges of local treatment.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nanostructured systems frequently employed for local drug delivery in cancer treatment.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for the local treatment of bladder cancer.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for the local treatment of breast cancer.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for the local treatment of colorectal cancer.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for local treatment of lung cancer.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for the local treatment of cutaneous and uveal melanoma.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Examples of nanostructured systems already studied and their advantages for the local treatment of oral cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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