title: Calcium carbonate nanoparticles as cancer drug delivery system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has broad biomedical utilizations owing to its availability, low cost, safety, biocompatibility, pH-sensitivity and slow biodegradability. Recently, there has been widespread interest in their application as drug delivery systems for different groups of drugs. Among them, CaCO3 nanoparticles have exhibited promising potential as drug carriers targeting cancer tissues and cells. The pH-dependent properties, alongside the potential to be functionalized with targeting agents give them the unique property that can be used in targeted delivery systems for anticancer drugs. Also, due to the slow degradation of CaCO3 matrices, these nanoparticles can be used as sustained release systems to retain drugs in cancer tissues for longer times after administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Development of drug delivery carriers using CaCO3 nanoparticles has been reviewed. The current state of CaCO3 nanoparticles as cancer drug delivery systems with focus on their special properties like pH-sensitivity and biodegradability has also been evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our review, CaCO3 nanoparticles, owing to their special characteristics, will have a potential role in safe and efficient cancer treatment in future.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Solmaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maleki Dizaj
authors.affiliation: b 2 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Drug Applied Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tabriz, Iran +98 41 3334 1315 ; +98 41 3334 4798 ; adibkia@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barzegar-Jalali
authors.affiliation: b 2 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Drug Applied Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tabriz, Iran +98 41 3334 1315 ; +98 41 3334 4798 ; adibkia@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zarrintan
authors.affiliation: b 2 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Drug Applied Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tabriz, Iran +98 41 3334 1315 ; +98 41 3334 4798 ; adibkia@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Adibkia
authors.affiliation: c 3 Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy , Tabriz, Iran +98 41 3339 2580 ; +98 41 3334 4798 ; lotfipoor@tbzmed.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lotfipour
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D004339:Drug Compounding; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002119:Calcium Carbonate
keywords: CaCO3; cancer; drug delivery; nanoparticle