Peptides as Targeting Elements and Tissue Penetration Devices for Nanoparticles

The use of nanoparticles in medicine (nanomedicine) has recently become an intensely studied field. Nanoparticles carrying drugs and imaging agents have already reached the clinic, but they are essentially passive delivery vehicles, not what are referred to as “smart” nanoparticles. An important fun...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2012-07, Vol.24 (28), p.3747-3756
Main Author: Ruoslahti, Erkki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biocompatible Materials - chemistry
Biological Transport, Active
Drug Carriers - administration & dosage
Drug Carriers - chemistry
Drug Delivery Systems
Humans
integrins
Nanomedicine
nanoparticles
Nanoparticles - administration & dosage
Nanoparticles - chemistry
Nanotechnology
Neoplasms - blood supply
Neoplasms - therapy
neuropilins
Peptides - administration & dosage
Peptides - pharmacokinetics
RGD
vascular zip codes
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Summary:The use of nanoparticles in medicine (nanomedicine) has recently become an intensely studied field. Nanoparticles carrying drugs and imaging agents have already reached the clinic, but they are essentially passive delivery vehicles, not what are referred to as “smart” nanoparticles. An important function to add to make nanoparticles smarter is active homing to the target tissue. It makes nanoparticles accumulate in the target tissue at higher concentrations than would be the case without this feature, increasing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects. This review discusses the recent developments in the nanoparticle targeting field with emphasis on peptides that home to vascular “zip codes” in target tissues and provide a tissue‐ and cell‐penetrating function. Nanoparticles that are essentially passive delivery vehicles carrying drugs and imaging agents are used clinically. New designs can greatly enhance the performance of nanoparticles by incorporating new functions into them. This review discusses engineering of an ability of nanoparticles to actively home to vascular “zip codes” in target tissues and penetrate into cells and tissues within the target.
ISSN:0935-9648
1521-4095
DOI:10.1002/adma.201200454