Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanomaterials for Cancer Treatment: Current Status and Perspectives

Title:Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanomaterials for Cancer Treatment: Current Status and Perspectives

Volume: 15 Issue: 4

Author(s): Amedea B. Seabra, Renata de Lima and Marcelo Calderón

Affiliation:

Keywords: Cancer, Cytotoxicity, Dendrimers, Diazeniumdiolates, Liposomes, Metallic nanoparticles, Nanomaterials, Nitric Oxide, Polymeric nanoparticles, Quantum dots, Silica nanoparticles, S-nitrosothiols.

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is known to have dichotomous effects on cancer biology, acting as a pro- or antineoplastic agent. Low concentrations of NO are reported to promote tumor growth, whereas high NO influx acts as a potent tumor repressor, leading to cytotoxicity and apoptosis. There is increasing interest in developing NO-releasing materials as potent tumoricidal agents in which high and localized concentrations of NO may be directly released in a sustained manner to the tumor site. Nanomaterials allied to NO donors have emerged as a promising strategy in cancer treatment. In this context, this review summarizes the roles of NO in cancer biology and highlights the therapeutic potential effects of NO-releasing nanomaterials based on polymeric nanoparticles, dendritic polymers, liposomes, silica nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles and quantum dots in combating tumor cells.

Cite this article as:

Seabra B. Amedea, de Lima Renata and Calderón Marcelo, Nitric Oxide Releasing Nanomaterials for Cancer Treatment: Current Status and Perspectives, Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1568026615666150108122918