Functionalized Nanocarriers for Enhanced Bioactive Delivery to Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Targeting Approaches and Related Biopharmaceutical Aspects

Title:Functionalized Nanocarriers for Enhanced Bioactive Delivery to Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Targeting Approaches and Related Biopharmaceutical Aspects

Volume: 21 Issue: 22

Author(s): Adeyemi S. Adebowale, Yahya E. Choonara, Pradeep Kumar, Lisa C. du Toit and Viness Pillay

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cancer, chemotherapy, homing peptides, nanoparticles, receptor ligands, squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract: Cancer has been described as one of the major and leading causes of death worldwide. By the year 2030, it has been postulated that over 21.4 million new cases of cancer could be expected, 17 million cancer deaths yearly and a total of 75 million people will be living with cancer within five years of diagnosis. Chemotherapy is the main therapeutic intervention for treating people living with SCC. However, drug resistance has rendered it inefficient and ineffective in combating the disease even after combination chemotherapy. Many peptides and proteins have been investigated to possess biological activities that mark them as potential anti-cancer agents. Targeting peptides are conjugated with other functional peptides or nanoparticles to augment drug delivery both in vitro and in vivo assays. The current identification of tumor-homing peptides through phage display technology has opened a new strategy for targeted therapy in SCC diseases. Despite the advances in cancer nanomedicine, targeted approaches in the delivery of therapeutics for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma related tumours have not been well established. In this review, current drugs employed in cancer nanomedicine are highlighted, possible rate limiting factors for the application of polymeric materials in cancer nanomedicine are elucidated and functionalized nano-constructs using receptor ligands and homing peptides as targeted moieties are discussed. The combinatorial strategy of attaching both homing peptides and receptor ligands as dual moieties on nano-cargos should further strengthen the advantages of each technology in cancer targeted therapy.

Cite this article as:

Adebowale S. Adeyemi, Choonara E. Yahya, Kumar Pradeep, du Toit C. Lisa and Pillay Viness, Functionalized Nanocarriers for Enhanced Bioactive Delivery to Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Targeting Approaches and Related Biopharmaceutical Aspects, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (22) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150531165331