Nanovectors Design for Theranostic Applications in Colorectal Cancer

Riccardo Rampado; Sara Crotti; Paolo Caliceti; Salvatore Pucciarelli; Marco Agostini

doi:10.1155/2019/2740923

Nanovectors Design for Theranostic Applications in Colorectal Cancer

J Oncol. 2019 Oct 1:2019:2740923. doi: 10.1155/2019/2740923. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Riccardo Rampado^{1

2}, Sara Crotti², Paolo Caliceti³, Salvatore Pucciarelli¹, Marco Agostini^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ First Surgical Clinic Section, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Via Nicolò Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy.
² Nano-Inspired Biomedicine Laboratory, Institute of Paediatric Research- Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padua, Italy.
³ Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo, 5, 35131 Padua, Italy.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a diffused disease with limited therapeutic options, none of which are often curative. Based on the molecular markers and targets expressed by the affected tissues, numerous novel approaches have been developed to study and treat this disease. In particular, the field of nanotechnology offers an astonishingly wide array of innovative nanovectors with high versatility and adaptability for both diagnosis and therapy (the so called "theranostic platforms"). However, such complexity can make the selection of a specific nanocarrier model to study a perplexing endeavour for the biomedical scientist or clinician not familiar with this field of inquiry. This review offers a comprehensive overview of this wide body of knowledge, in order to outline the essential requirements for the clinical viability evaluation of a nanovector model in CRC. In particular, the differences among the foremost designs, their specific advantages, and technological caveats will be treated, never forgetting the ultimate endpoint for these systems development: the clinical practice.

Publication types

Review