Tumor microenvironment-responsive nanoparticles for cancer theragnostic applications

• Published in: Biomaterials research Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 22
• Main Authors: Uthaman, Saji, Huh, Kang Moo, Park, In-Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States BioMed Central Ltd 23-08-2018; BioMed Central; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); 한국생체재료학회
• Subjects: Biomedical materials; Brain cancer; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Chemotherapy; Diagnosis; Drugs; Enzymes; Hypoxia; Intermediates; Ligands; Microenvironments; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticle; Nanoparticles; Patient outcomes; Physiology; Radiation therapy; Redox; Review; Solid tumors; Surgery; Tumor microenvironment; Tumors; 의공학; Redox; pH; Hypoxia; Tumor microenvironment; Nanoparticle; Cancer
• ISSN: 1226-4601; 2055-7124; 2055-7124
• DOI: 10.1186/s40824-018-0132-z

Cancer is one of the deadliest threats to human health. Abnormal physiochemical conditions and dysregulated biosynthetic intermediates in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a significant role in modulating cancer cells to evade or defend conventional anti-cancer therapy such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. One of the most important challenges in the development of anti-tumor therapy is the successful delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents specifically to solid tumors.
The recent progresses in development of TME responsive nanoparticles offers promising strategies for combating cancer by making use of the common attributes of tumor such as acidic and hypoxic microenvironments. In this review, we discussed the prominent strategies utilized in the development of tumor microenvironment-responsive nanoparticles and mode of release of therapeutic cargo.
Tumor microenvironment-responsive nanoparticles offers a universal approach for anti-cancer therapy.