Nanotechnology Enters the Renal Cancer Drug Delivery Arena: A Review

Abstract

Unique pharmacokinetics, minimal renal filtration, controllable size and shape, high surface-to-volume ratios, easy functionalization to attach ligands, therapeutic agents and navigating molecules so that they can be internalizedare the properties of nanoparticles that have been used to deliver drugs to various cancer cells. Entry of nanotechnology for targeted drug delivery to renal cancer is in its infancy. This review apprehends the arsenal of different types of nanocarriers available that can be used for selective tumor targeting, and challenges in renal cancer treatment. Nanocarriers are much smaller than cancer cells therefore can be taken-up through leaky blood vessels and interact with targeted tumor-specific proteins both on the surface and inside cancer cells. Use of nanoparticles to thermally ablate kidney cancer is also touched upon. This review suggests that in future, owing to the efficacy of these novel agents, the therapy of renal cancer appears promising.