Cancer is a disease in which some cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer cells grow and multiply, although the body does not need them. Very small amounts of drugs used for cancer treatment can reach cancer cells. Others attack healthy cells or excreted by the body. Therefore, cancer cannot be cured, and healthy tissues are also damaged. For drugs to arrive at cancer cells, they should be kept in the body longer, the liver’s activity must be controlled, and ligands must be attached for the drug to arrive at the right cell.
To begin with, the residence time of the drugs in the body should be increased for more drugs to reach target cells. Cancer drugs get washed out by the kidneys because these drugs are too small particles. These drugs do not have time to find the tumor, therefore, cannot function. If drugs are placed in a nanoparticle, which is a particle large enough that the kidneys cannot excrete, the drugs remain to circulate in the blood.
Secondly, ligands must be attached to the surface of nanoparticles for drugs to reach target cells. Cancer drugs cannot identify the difference between a cancer cell and a normal cell. Therefore, most drugs are taken up by normal cells before they reach the cancer cells. In addition, since normal cells are also damaged, conditions such as hair loss and weight loss are observed in the patient. To solve this situation, ligands are placed on the surfaces of these nanoparticles. Each cancer cell has a receptor on its surface. The ligand recognizes and binds to this receptor. Thus, cancer drugs reach target cells without going to normal cells.
Finally, for drugs to continue circulating in the blood vessel, the activity of the liver must be stopped. When the liver detects a foreign substance, it gets rid of it. If the liver is stopped, drugs arrive the cells.
To conclude, nanoparticles play an important role in the resolution of cancer. For the drugs to reach the target cell, more time should be given to them, they should be enabled to recognize the target cells, and the liver should not be allowed to destroy them. Studies are continuing for nanoparticles to solve these problems in cancer treatment. I believe that using nanoparticles, damage to healthy tissues will be reduced, and many patients can be saved.
SOURCES
Written by M. Wang, M. Thanou / Pharmacological Research
Written by Sanjeeb K. Sahoo , Fahima Dilnawaz and S. Krishnakumar
Written By Siti M. Janib, Ara S. Moses and J. Andrew MacKay.
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