title: Nitric oxide releasing nanomaterials for cancer treatment: current status and perspectives.
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.
authors.forename: Amedea B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Seabra
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Exact and Earth Science Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua São Nicolau, 210, Centro, Diadema, SP, CEP 09913030, Brazil. amedea.seabra@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderón
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide