Cancer nanotheranostics aims to combine imaging and therapy of cancer through use of nanotechnology. The ability to engineer nanomaterials to interact with cancer cells at the molecular level can significantly improve the effectiveness and specificity of therapy to cancers that are currently difficult to treat. In particular, metastatic cancers, drug-resistant cancers, and cancer stem cells impose the greatest therapeutic challenge for targeted therapy. Targeted therapy can be achieved with appropriately designed drug delivery vehicles such as nanoparticles, adult stem cells, or T cells in immunotherapy. In this article, we first review the different types of nanotheranostic particles and their use in imaging, followed by the biological barriers they must bypass to reach the target cancer cells, including the blood, liver, kidneys, spleen, and particularly the blood-brain barrier. We then review how nanotheranostics can be used to improve targeted delivery and treatment of cancer cells. Finally, we discuss development of nanoparticles to overcome current limitations in cancer therapy.

https://faculty.washington.edu/mzhang/mse599/Cancer%20Nanotheranostics%20Improving%20Imaging%20and%20Therapy%20by%20Targeted%20Delivery%20across%20Biological%20Barriers-2011.pdf

Cancer nanotheranostics: improving imaging and therapy by targeted delivery across biological barriers.

Paclitaxel is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic drugs ever developed and is active against a broad range of cancers, such as lung, ovarian, and breast cancers. Due to its low water solubility, paclitaxel is formulated in a mixture of Cremophor EL and dehydrated ethanol (50:50, v/v) a combination known as Taxol. However, Taxol has some severe side effects related to Cremophor EL and ethanol. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of alternative Taxol formulations. The encapsulation of paclitaxel in biodegradable and non-toxic nano-delivery systems can protect the drug from degradation during circulation and in-turn protect the body from toxic side effects of the drug thereby lowering its toxicity, increasing its circulation half-life, exhibiting improved pharmacokinetic profiles, and demonstrating better patient compliance. Also, nanoparticle-based delivery systems can take advantage of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect for passive tumor targeting, therefore, they are promising carriers to improve the therapeutic index and decrease the side effects of paclitaxel. To date, paclitaxel albumin-bound nanoparticles (Abraxane®) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, there are a number of novel paclitaxel nanoparticle formulations in clinical trials. In this comprehensive review, several types of developed paclitaxel nano-delivery systems will be covered and discussed, such as polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based formulations, polymer conjugates, inorganic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, nanocrystals, and cyclodextrin nanoparticles.

/pdf/paclitaxel-nano-delivery-systems-a-comprehensive-review-29kumlrwxp.pdf

Paclitaxel Nano-Delivery Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Advances in oral nano-delivery systems for colon targeted drug delivery in inflammatory bowel disease: selective targeting to diseased versus healthy tissue.

Lipid--an emerging platform for oral delivery of drugs with poor bioavailability.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems for therapy of tumor.

To test the ability of nanoparticle formulations to overcome P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance, several different doxorubicin and paclitaxel-loaded lipid nanoparticles were prepared. Doxorubicin nanoparticles showed 6- to 8-fold lower IC(50) values in P-gp-overexpressing human cancer cells than those of free doxorubicin. The IC(50) value of paclitaxel nanoparticles was over 9-fold lower than that of Taxol in P-gp-overexpressing cells. A series of in vitro cell assays were used including quantitative studies on uptake and efflux, inhibition of calcein acetoxymethylester efflux, alteration of ATP levels, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity. Enhanced uptake and prolonged retention of doxorubicin were observed with nanoparticle-based formulations in P-gp-overexpressing cells. Calcein acetoxymethylester and ATP assays confirmed that blank nanoparticles inhibited P-gp and transiently depleted ATP. I.v. injection of pegylated paclitaxel nanoparticles showed marked anticancer efficacy in nude mice bearing resistant NCI/ADR-RES tumors versus all control groups. Nanoparticles may be used to target both drug and biological mechanisms to overcome multidrug resistance via P-gp inhibition and ATP depletion.

https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/69/9/3918.full.pdf

Moo J. Cho

Papers

Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel-Loaded Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Overcome Multidrug Resistance by Inhibiting P-Glycoprotein and Depleting ATP