Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of brain tumor, and the clinically available approaches for its treatment are not curative. Despite the intensive research, biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and tumor cell membranes are major obstacles to devel...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Pharmaceutics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/279 |
| _version_ | 1827653332942979072 |
|---|---|
| author | Maria João Ramalho Joana Angélica Loureiro Manuel A. N. Coelho Maria Carmo Pereira |
| author_facet | Maria João Ramalho Joana Angélica Loureiro Manuel A. N. Coelho Maria Carmo Pereira |
| author_sort | Maria João Ramalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of brain tumor, and the clinically available approaches for its treatment are not curative. Despite the intensive research, biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and tumor cell membranes are major obstacles to developing novel effective therapies. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been explored as drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve GBM therapeutic strategies. NPs can circumvent many of the biological barriers posed by this devastating disease, enhancing drug accumulation in the target site. This can be achieved by employing strategies to target the transferrin receptor (TfR), which is heavily distributed in BBB and GBM cells. These targeting strategies comprise the modification of NPs’ surface with various molecules, such as transferrin (Tf), antibodies, and targeting peptides. This review provides an overview and discussion on the recent advances concerning the strategies to target the TfR in the treatment of GBM, as their benefits and limitations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:15:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8dd9ea9985741bb9a6b6487d1c13ef7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4923 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:15:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceutics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8dd9ea9985741bb9a6b6487d1c13ef72023-11-23T21:36:37ZengMDPI AGPharmaceutics1999-49232022-01-0114227910.3390/pharmaceutics14020279Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat GlioblastomaMaria João Ramalho0Joana Angélica Loureiro1Manuel A. N. Coelho2Maria Carmo Pereira3LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalLEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, PortugalGlioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal type of brain tumor, and the clinically available approaches for its treatment are not curative. Despite the intensive research, biological barriers such as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and tumor cell membranes are major obstacles to developing novel effective therapies. Nanoparticles (NPs) have been explored as drug delivery systems (DDS) to improve GBM therapeutic strategies. NPs can circumvent many of the biological barriers posed by this devastating disease, enhancing drug accumulation in the target site. This can be achieved by employing strategies to target the transferrin receptor (TfR), which is heavily distributed in BBB and GBM cells. These targeting strategies comprise the modification of NPs’ surface with various molecules, such as transferrin (Tf), antibodies, and targeting peptides. This review provides an overview and discussion on the recent advances concerning the strategies to target the TfR in the treatment of GBM, as their benefits and limitations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/279brain deliveryblood-brain barrierfunctionalized nanoparticlessurface modificationactive targetingtransferrin |
| spellingShingle | Maria João Ramalho Joana Angélica Loureiro Manuel A. N. Coelho Maria Carmo Pereira Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma Pharmaceutics brain delivery blood-brain barrier functionalized nanoparticles surface modification active targeting transferrin |
| title | Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma |
| title_full | Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma |
| title_fullStr | Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma |
| title_short | Transferrin Receptor-Targeted Nanocarriers: Overcoming Barriers to Treat Glioblastoma |
| title_sort | transferrin receptor targeted nanocarriers overcoming barriers to treat glioblastoma |
| topic | brain delivery blood-brain barrier functionalized nanoparticles surface modification active targeting transferrin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/14/2/279 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariajoaoramalho transferrinreceptortargetednanocarriersovercomingbarrierstotreatglioblastoma AT joanaangelicaloureiro transferrinreceptortargetednanocarriersovercomingbarrierstotreatglioblastoma AT manuelancoelho transferrinreceptortargetednanocarriersovercomingbarrierstotreatglioblastoma AT mariacarmopereira transferrinreceptortargetednanocarriersovercomingbarrierstotreatglioblastoma |