Dendrimer-based nanoparticles for cancer therapy.
Recent work has suggested that nanoparticles in the form of dendrimers may be a keystone in the future of therapeutics. The field of oncology could soon be revolutionized by novel strategies for diagnosis and therapy employing dendrimer-based nanotherapeutics. Several aspects of cancer therapy would be involved. Diagnosis using imaging techniques such as MRI will be improved by the incorporation of dendrimers as advanced contrast agents. This might involve novel contrast agents targeted specifically to cancer cells. Dendrimers can also be being applied to a variety of cancer therapies to improve their safety and efficacy. A strategy, somewhat akin to the "Trojan horse," involves targeting anti-metabolite drugs via vitamins or hormones that tumors need for growth. Further applications of dendrimers in photodynamic therapy, boron neutron capture therapy, and gene therapy for cancer are being examined. This presentation will cover the fundamentals of research utilizing dendrimers for cancer diagnosis and therapy. An evaluation of this new technologies will detail what advantage dendrimer based therapeutics might have over conventional cancer drugs.
Baker
James R
JR
Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5648, USA. jbakerjr@umich.edu
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media; D004247:DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; D006801:Humans; D007624:KB Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008958:Models, Molecular; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D050091:Dendrimers; D004337:Drug Carriers; D058973:Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D004247:DNA; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D008727:Methotrexate