Shrinking the battlefield in cancer therapy: Nanotechnology against cancer stem cells
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, presenting a significant healthcare challenge owing to the limited efficacy of current treatments. The application of nanotechnology in cancer treatment leverages the unique optical, magnetic, and electrical attributes of nanomaterials to engineer innovative, targeted therapies. Specifically, manipulating nanomaterials allows for enhanced drug loading efficiency, improved bioavailability, and targeted delivery systems, reducing the non-specific cytotoxic effects characteristic of conventional chemotherapies. Furthermore, recent advances in nanotechnology have demonstrated encouraging results in specifically targeting CSCs, a key development considering the role of these cells in disease recurrence and resistance to treatment. Despite these breakthroughs, the clinical approval rates of nano-drugs have not kept pace with research advances, pointing to existing obstacles that must be addressed. In conclusion, nanotechnology presents a novel, powerful tool in the fight against cancer, particularly in targeting the elusive and treatment-resistant CSCs. This comprehensive review delves into the intricacies of nanotherapy, explicitly targeting cancer stem cells, their markers, and associated signaling pathways.
Other Information
Published in: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
See article on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106586
Funding
Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library.
History
Language
- English
Publisher
ElsevierPublication Year
- 2023
License statement
This Item is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Institution affiliated with
- Hamad Medical Corporation
- Academic Health System - HMC
- Interim Translational Research Institute - HMC
- Dermatology Institute - HMC
- Qatar University
- Laboratory Animal Research Center - QU
- Qatar University Health - QU
- College of Medicine - QU HEALTH
- College of Pharmacy - QU HEALTH
- Sidra Medicine