ABSTRACT

Introduction

The targeted delivery of anticancer agents to tumor is a major challenge because most of the drugs show off-target effect resulting in nonspecific cell death. Multifunctionalized metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are explored as new carrier system in the era of cancer therapeutics. Researchers investigated the potential of metallic NPs to target tumor cells by active and passive mechanisms, thereby reducing off-target effects of anticancer agents. Moreover, photocatalytic activity of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect have also gained wide potential in cancer treatment. Recent advancement in the field of nanotechnology highlights their potency for cancer therapy.

Areas covered

This review summarizes the types of gold and silver metallic NPs with targeting mechanisms and their potentiality in cancer therapy. 

Expert opinion

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology for cancer therapy offer high specificity and targeting efficiency. Targeting tumor cells through mechanistic pathways using metallic NPs for the disruption/alteration of molecular profile and survival rate of the tumor cells has led to an effective approach for cancer therapeutics. This alteration in the survival rate of the tumor cells might decrease the proliferation thereby resulting in more efficient management in the treatment of cancer. 

中文翻译：

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金属纳米粒子作为治疗癌症的药物递送系统

摘要

介绍

将抗癌药物靶向递送至肿瘤是一项重大挑战，因为大多数药物表现出脱靶效应，导致非特异性细胞死亡。多功能金属纳米粒子 (NPs) 被探索作为癌症治疗时代的新载体系统。研究人员研究了金属纳米颗粒通过主动和被动机制靶向肿瘤细胞的潜力，从而减少抗癌药物的脱靶效应。此外，上转换纳米粒子（UCNPs）的光催化活性和增强的渗透和保留（EPR）效应也在癌症治疗中获得了广泛的潜力。纳米技术领域的最新进展凸显了它们在癌症治疗方面的潜力。

覆盖区域

本综述总结了具有靶向机制的金银金属纳米颗粒的类型及其在癌症治疗中的潜力。 

专家意见

用于癌症治疗的纳米技术领域的最新进展提供了高特异性和靶向效率。使用金属纳米颗粒通过机械途径靶向肿瘤细胞来破坏/改变肿瘤细胞的分子谱和存活率，这已成为一种有效的癌症治疗方法。肿瘤细胞存活率的这种改变可能会降低增殖，从而在癌症治疗中进行更有效的管理。