Colloidal gold nanoparticles: a novel nanoparticle platform for developing multifunctional tumor‐targeted drug delivery vectors

TLDR

Nanotechnology offers highly sensitive diagnostics and targeted cancer therapies, yet nanoparticle delivery systems must overcome intrinsic immune barriers and tumor‑specific obstacles, and recent advances enable nanoscale vectors that reduce opsonization and facilitate multi‑agent delivery to heterogeneous tumor cell populations. The study aims to develop multifunctional colloidal gold nanoparticles that deliver TNF and paclitaxel specifically to solid tumors. The authors design colloidal gold‑based drugs functionalized to co‑deliver TNF and paclitaxel to tumor sites. Drug Development Research 67:47–54, 2006, © Wiley‑Liss, Inc.

Abstract

Abstract Nanotechnology applied to biological problems represents an emerging field with the potential to offer extremely sensitive diagnostics and targeted cancer therapies. However, to achieve these goals, nanoparticle delivery systems must outwit the many barriers that are intrinsic to the body's defenses, as well as those that develop during the growth and progression of tumors. The science is advancing and, for example, true nanoscale tumor‐targeted drug delivery vectors are now able to reduce the likelihood of opsonization in the bloodstream and uptake by the reticuloendothelial system. Other advances hold promise for delivering multiple therapeutic agents to non‐homogeneous populations of cancer cells in solid tumors. We briefly summarize herein our attempts to build such multifunctional nanotherapeutics using colloidal gold nanoparticles. Specifically we discuss the development of colloidal gold‐based drugs that are designed to target the delivery of TNF and paclitaxel to solid tumors. Drug Dev. Res. 67:47–54, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.