Tumor-Microenvironment- Responsive Size-Shrinkable Drug-Delivery Nanosystems for Deepened Penetration Into Tumors

Autor: Xiaoliang Cheng, Houli Li, Xuemei Ge, Lijuan Chen, Yao Liu, Wenwei Mao, Bo Zhao, Wei-En Yuan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, Vol 7 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2296-889X
DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.576420
Popis: Over the years, the manipulation and clinical application of drug-delivery nanosystems for cancer diseases have attracted a rapid growth of academic research interests, and some nanodrugs have been approved for clinic application. Although encouraging achievements have been made, the potency of nanomedicines in cancer treatment is far from satisfaction, and one significant reason is the inefficient penetration of nanoparticles into solid tumors. Particle size is one of the most significant features that influence diffusion ability of the drug-delivery system in tumors. Size-shrinkable drug-delivery nanosystems possess a size-switchable property that can achieve passive targeting via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and transform into ultrasmall particles in tumors for deep penetration into tumors. The tumor microenvironment is characterized by acidic pH, hypoxia, upregulated levels of enzymes, and a redox environment. In this review, we summarize and analyze the current research progresses and challenges in tumor microenvironment responsive size-shrinkable drug-delivery nanosystems. We further expect to present some meaningful proposals and enlightenments on promoting deep penetration into tumors of nanoparticles.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals