Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
6.3 SLN for Cancer Therapy
SLN emerges as a very potential nano-carrier system for a wide range of cancer
therapeutic agents, such as chemical drugs, inorganic nanoparticles and nucleic
acids. Moreover, more than one type of cargo can be loaded in the same SLN.
For example, hydrophobic anticancerous drugs can be loaded inside the solid core
of SLN and therapeutic nucleic acids can be attached over the surface via elec-
trostatic interaction leading to the enhanced therapeutic effect and better patient
compliance. Recently, Zhu et al. synthesized SLN loaded with docetaxel and oxi-
dized single walled carbon nanotubes and targeted to the cancer cells via folic acid
receptor. As single walled carbon nanotubes possess high surface area along with
higher near-infrared absorption coefficient, have a great potential in drug delivery.
Fig. 31
Active and passive targeting of SLN
