Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Strategies for Diabetes and Cancer Therapy

Nanoparticle-based platforms have emerged as versatile vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic agents in both diabetes and cancer, offering solutions to long-standing challenges in pharmacokinetics, targeting and patient compliance. In diabetes treatment, polymeric and lipid nanoparticles have been engineered to encapsulate insulin or insulinotropic drugs, enabling protection from enzymatic degradation, sustained release and glucose-responsive behaviour. Such systems include hydrogels functionalised with phenylboronic acid moieties that swell in hyperglycaemic conditions and release insulin in a self-regulating manner. In parallel, cancer therapy has benefited from metallic, polymeric and lipid nanoparticles designed for enhanced permeability and retention in tumours, active targeting through surface ligands and co-delivery of chemotherapeutics with nucleic acids. Hybrid constructs combining metal nanoclusters with polymer matrices, as well as stimulus-sensitive liposomes triggered by pH or redox potential, have achieved remarkable improvements in tumour uptake, cytotoxic synergy and reduction of off-target toxicity. Collectively, these advances underscore the global significance of nanoscale carriers in transforming the administration of life-saving drugs, improving therapeutic windows and reducing systemic side effects.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Researchers have developed hybrid polymeric nanocapsules embedding ultra-small silver nanoclusters within a chitosan scaffold functionalised with targeting ligands. These core–shell vehicles encapsulate docetaxel in the hydrophobic core while the silver nanoclusters reside in the shell, producing a synergistic cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cells. Oral administration studies demonstrated a ninefold enhancement in bioavailability, a significant extension of half-life and prolonged circulation compared with conventional suspension. Acute toxicity assessments in murine models revealed no significant alterations in organ histology or blood biochemistry, highlighting the biocompatibility and safety of this hybrid nanocarrier for cancer chemotherapy.

Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Strategies for Diabetes and Cancer Therapy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle-based drug delivery strategies for diabetes and cancer therapy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanoparticle: A colloidal particle with dimensions in the 1–100 nm range, used for drug encapsulation and delivery.

Liposome: A vesicular structure composed of lipid bilayers capable of encapsulating hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

Polymeric nanoparticle: A solid colloidal particle formed from biocompatible polymers, offering controlled drug release profiles.

Glucose-responsive system: A formulation that alters its drug-release rate in response to ambient glucose concentration.

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

Targeting ligand: A molecule (e.g., aptamer or antibody fragment) attached to a nanoparticle surface to facilitate selective binding to specific cells or receptors.

References

1. Polymeric nanocapsules embedded with ultra-small silver nanoclusters for synergistic pharmacology and improved oral delivery of Docetaxel. Scientific Reports (2018).
2. Enhanced Oral Delivery of Docetaxel Using Thiolated Chitosan Nanoparticles: Preparation, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies. BioMed Research International (2013).
3. Targeted Co-Delivery of Docetaxel and cMET siRNA for Treatment of Mucin1 Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells. Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin (2018).