Nanoparticles for intracellular-targeted drug delivery

Nanotechnology. 2011 Dec 9;22(49):494002. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/49/494002. Epub 2011 Nov 21.

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are very promising for the intracellular delivery of anticancer and immunomodulatory drugs, stem cell differentiation biomolecules and cell activity modulators. Although initial studies in the area of intracellular drug delivery have been performed in the delivery of DNA, there is an increasing interest in the use of other molecules to modulate cell activity. Herein, we review the latest advances in the intracellular-targeted delivery of short interference RNA, proteins and small molecules using NPs. In most cases, the drugs act at different cellular organelles and therefore the drug-containing NPs should be directed to precise locations within the cell. This will lead to the desired magnitude and duration of the drug effects. The spatial control in the intracellular delivery might open new avenues to modulate cell activity while avoiding side-effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nanoparticles / analysis
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations / administration & dosage*
  • Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering