title: Nanocaged platforms: modification, drug delivery and nanotoxicity. Opening synthetic cages to release the tiger.
abstract: Nanocages (NCs) have emerged as a new class of drug-carriers, with a wide range of possibilities in multi-modality medical treatments and theranostics. Nanocages can overcome such limitations as high toxicity caused by anti-cancer chemotherapy or by the nanocarrier itself, due to their unique characteristics. These properties consist of: (1) a high loading-capacity (spacious interior); (2) a porous structure (analogous to openings between the bars of the cage); (3) enabling smart release (a key to unlock the cage); and (4) a low likelihood of unfavorable immune responses (the outside of the cage is safe). In this review, we cover different classes of NC structures such as virus-like particles (VLPs), protein NCs, DNA NCs, supramolecular nanosystems, hybrid metal-organic NCs, gold NCs, carbon-based NCs and silica NCs. Moreover, NC-assisted drug delivery including modification methods, drug immobilization, active targeting, and stimulus-responsive release mechanisms are discussed, highlighting the advantages, disadvantages and challenges. Finally, translation of NCs into clinical applications, and an up-to-date assessment of the nanotoxicology considerations of NCs are presented.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karimi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology (RCPN), Tabriz University of Medical Science (TUOMS), Tabriz, Iran.|Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 11365-9466, Tehran, Iran.|Nanomedicine Research Association (NRA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parham Sahandi
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Zangabad
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mehdizadeh
authors.affiliation: Advanced Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine Research Group (ANNRG), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Faculty of Chemistry, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hedieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malekzad
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, 11365-9466, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghasemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sajad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Group, Materials Science & Engineering Department, Iran University of Science & Technology, P.O. Box 1684613114 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moghoofei
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Intelligent Machines, Lappeenranta University of Technology, 53810, Finland.
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hekmatmanesh
authors.affiliation: Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.|Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.|Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hamblin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000517:prevention & control; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006046:Gold