Nanotechnology-Based ROS-Triggered Therapeutic Strategies in Multiple Cancer

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been found to be a key player in the development of several hallmarks of cancer. One of the distinguishing characteristics of cancer is an elevated level of ROS, which when enhanced further makes it an effective cytotoxic agent in the treatment of malignant cancer. Due to the numerous side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy alone, major part of the research has been focused on the integration of nanomaterials with ROS-mediated therapy for finding a new paradigm of tumor treatment, such as oxidation therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT). The presence of pro-oxidative functional groups on the surface of the nanomaterials and the redox-cycling that takes place on the reactive surface of transition metal-based nanomaterial and the interaction between cell and particle are some of the key factors responsible for nanoparticle-induced ROS generation. The advancement of cancer biology research has resulted in the introduction and development of cancer nanomedicines, which provide a basis for using nanotechnology to improve therapeutic approaches. This chapter discusses the role of nanomaterial as ROS-generating agents or its carrier in different tumor targeted therapies. It also throws a brief insight on different commercially available ROS-generating anticancer drugs with improved pharmacokinetic profile through use of nanocarriers.