Supramolecular nanoscale assemblies for cancer diagnosis and therapy

Authors and Affiliations:

Sílvia Castro Coelho^1, Maria Carmo Pereira^1, Asta Juzeniene^2, Petras Juzenas^2, Manuel Álvaro Coelho¹

 ¹ LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Roberto Frias, PT-4200-465 Porto, Portugal

² Department of Radiation Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Radiumhospital, Oslo University Hospital, NO-0310 Oslo, Norway

Abstract:

Nanocarriers based on polymers, metals and lipids have been extensively developed for cancer therapy and diagnosis due to their ability to enhance drug accumulation in cancer cells and decrease undesired drug toxicity in healthy tissues. Overcoming multidrug resistance by designing proper drug nanocarriers will improve outcome of existing oncologic treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this article the relation between physicochemical properties and capacity of a nanosystem to deliver therapeutic agents into pathological sites is discussed. Most promising examples of drug delivery systems are reviewed, and, in particular, the design of a carbohydrate based matrix with entrapped gold nanoparticles is highlighted.

Journal: Journal of Controlled Release

Link:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26160308