Nanoconjugated guide-molecules for the diagnosis and therapy of cancer

GLISONI R.J.

San Martín, Unsam

Workshop; 1st School and Workshop of Nanotechnology and Cancer; 2017

Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Instituto de Nanosistemas (INS)

In the last decades, great efforts have been made to develop new nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nanoparticles have singular biological properties because of their small size and large surface area, which is suitable for taking in advantage the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR) for the therapy and diagnosis of cancer. The EPR effect is the unique phenomenon of solid tumors related to their anatomical and pathophysiological differences from normal tissues. In addition to the EPR effect, the core-shell of pegylated nanocarriers would provide a longer half-life in circulation. Furthermore, nanoparticles have the ability to embody or to absorb hydrophilic or lipophilic drugs and to guide a large number of substances such as active ligands for targeting to different specific receptors, antibodies, aptamers and sugar residues, among others with high efficiency. On the other hand, they have a well-known biocompatibility with different routes of administration, which makes them very attractive in several aspects of the clinic. Here, it will be shown some examples, from our experience, on how nanoparticles based on different biodegradable and biocaompatible materials are able to function as nanocarriers of chemotherapeutic drugs and mainly, how they can act as therapeutic agents and molecular imaging agents for detect and control the progression of cancer.