Nanotherapies based on micelles, liposomes, polymersomes, nanocapsules, magnetic nanoparticles, and noble metal nanoparticles have been at the forefront of drug delivery in the past few decades. Some of these nanopharmaceuticals have been commercially applied to treat a wide range of diseases, from dry eye syndrome to cancer. However, the majority involve particles that are passive, meaning that they do not change shape, and they lack motility; the static features can limit their therapeutic efficacy. In this review, we take a critical look at an emerging field that seeks to utilize active matter for therapeutics. In this context, active matter can be broadly referred to as micro or nanosized constructs that energetically react with their environment or external fields and translate, rotate, vibrate or change shape. Essentially, the recent literature suggests that such particles could significantly augment present-day drug delivery, by enhancing transport and increasing permeability across anatomical barriers by transporting drugs within solid tumor microenvironments or disrupting cardiovascular plaque. We discuss examples of such particles and link the transport and permeability properties of active matter to potential therapeutic applications in the context of two major diseases, namely cancer and heart disease. We also discuss potential challenges, opportunities, and translational hurdles.

中文翻译：

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活性物质疗法

过去几十年来，基于胶束、脂质体、聚合物囊泡、纳米胶囊、磁性纳米颗粒和贵金属纳米颗粒的纳米疗法一直处于药物输送的最前沿。其中一些纳米药物已在商业上应用于治疗从干眼综合症到癌症等多种疾病。然而，大多数涉及被动粒子，这意味着它们不会改变形状，并且缺乏运动性；静态特征会限制其治疗效果。在这篇综述中，我们对一个寻求利用活性物质进行治疗的新兴领域进行了批判性的审视。在这种情况下，活性物质可以广泛地指微米或纳米尺寸的结构，它们与其环境或外部场发生能量反应并平移、旋转、振动或改变形状。从本质上讲，最近的文献表明，此类颗粒可以通过在实体瘤微环境内运输药物或破坏心血管斑块来增强运输和增加跨解剖屏障的渗透性，从而显着增强当今的药物输送。我们讨论了此类颗粒的例子，并将活性物质的运输和渗透特性与癌症和心脏病这两种主要疾病的潜在治疗应用联系起来。我们还讨论了潜在的挑战、机遇和转化障碍。