Engineering nanosystems to overcome barriers to cancer diagnosis and treatment

Over the past two decades, multidisciplinary investigations into the development of nanoparticles for medical applications have continually increased. However, nanoparticles are still subject to biological barriers and biodistribution challenges, which limit their overall clinical potential. This has motivated the implementation of innovational modifications to a range of nanoparticle formulations designed for cancer imaging and/or cancer treatment to overcome specific barriers and shift the accumulation of pay-loads toward the diseased tissues. In recent years, novel technological and chemical approaches have been employed to modify or functionalize the surface of nanoparticles or manipulate the characteristics of nanoparticles. Combining these approaches with the identification of critical biomarkers provides new strategies for enhancing nanoparticle specificity for both cancer diagnostic and therapeutic applications. This review discusses the most recent advances in the design and engineering of nanoparticles as well as future directions for developing the next generation of nanomedicines.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In the past two decades, there has been increasing interdisciplinary research on the development of nanoparticles for medical applications. However, nanoparticles still face biological barriers and biodistribution challenges, limiting their overall clinical potential. To overcome these limitations, innovative modifications have been made to nanoparticle formulations designed for cancer imaging and treatment, aiming to enhance specificity and target diseased tissues. Recent advancements in technology and chemistry have been employed to modify the surface and characteristics of nanoparticles, in combination with identifying critical biomarkers, providing new strategies for improving nanoparticle specificity in cancer diagnosis and therapy. This review discusses the latest advances in nanoparticle design and engineering, and outlines future directions for the development of next-generation nanomedicines.