Nanoparticle Applications in Cancer Therapeutics

Nanoparticles have revolutionised the field of oncology by enabling targeted delivery, controlled release and multifunctional approaches to cancer treatment. These sub-100 nanometre carriers enhance drug solubility and stability, reduce systemic toxicity and improve pharmacokinetics. Passive accumulation within tumours via the enhanced permeability and retention effect can be complemented by active targeting ligands that recognise tumour-associated biomarkers. Tailored surface chemistries enable stimuli-responsive drug release in response to pH, redox potential or enzymatic activity in the tumour microenvironment. Multifunctional platforms integrate therapeutic payloads with diagnostic agents to support image-guided therapy. Diverse materials – including liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, metallic and hybrid systems – have been investigated for chemotherapy, gene therapy, immunomodulation and photothermal or photodynamic treatment. Ongoing clinical translation hinges on optimising biocompatibility, biodistribution and manufacturing scalability. The global significance of nanoparticle platforms is reflected in their capacity to enable personalised medicine, overcome drug resistance and address heterogeneity across cancer subtypes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have advanced antibody-guided nanoparticle assemblies to improve selectivity and potency in receptor-driven cancers. A polyavidin-based scaffold engineered for stoichiometric control of anti-EGFR antibodies demonstrated enhanced receptor binding and internalisation compared to conventional antibody–drug conjugates. When loaded with a cytotoxic payload, this platform achieved superior tumour reduction at low dosage in preclinical models, suggesting potential for extension to patients with mutations that limit current antibody therapies. The work highlights the benefits of modular nanoparticle tethering to extend the utility of established biologics.

Nanoparticle Applications in Cancer Therapeutics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle applications in cancer therapeutics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumour tissue due to leaky vasculature and impaired lymphatic drainage.

Active targeting: Functionalisation of nanoparticle surfaces with ligands that bind specific tumour-associated receptors to increase cellular uptake.

Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles: Nanocarriers designed to release cargo in response to internal cues (pH, redox) or external triggers (light, heat).

Theranostics: Integrated platforms combining therapeutic and diagnostic functions in a single nanoparticle for image-guided treatment.

Polymeric nanocarrier: Colloidal particles composed of synthetic or natural polymers, engineered to encapsulate and deliver drugs.

Avidin-nucleic-acid-nano-assemblies (ANANAS): Polyavidin scaffolds that allow precise antibody tethering for targeted delivery of cytotoxic agents.

References

1. Controlled drug delivery vehicles for cancer treatment and their performance. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2018).
2. Polymeric Nanocarriers of Drug Delivery Systems in Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics (2020).
3. Supramolecular combination chemotherapy: a pH-responsive co-encapsulation drug delivery system. Chemical Science (2020).
4. MRI-traceable theranostic nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment. Theranostics (2021).
5. Gold Nanoparticle Approach to the Selective Delivery of Gene Silencing in Cancer—The Case for Combined Delivery?. Genes (2017).
6. Improvement and extension of anti-EGFR targeting in breast cancer therapy by integration with the Avidin-Nucleic-Acid-Nano-Assemblies. Nature Communications (2018).