The Landscape of Nanovectors for Modulation in Cancer Immunotherapy
Simona-Ruxandra Volovat,
Corina Lupascu Ursulescu,
Liliana Gheorghe Moisii,
Constantin Volovat,
Diana Boboc,
Dragos Scripcariu,
Florin Amurariti,
Cipriana Stefanescu,
Cati Raluca Stolniceanu,
Maricel Agop,
Cristian Lungulescu,
Cristian Constantin Volovat
Affiliations
Simona-Ruxandra Volovat
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Corina Lupascu Ursulescu
Department of Radiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Liliana Gheorghe Moisii
Department of Radiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Constantin Volovat
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Diana Boboc
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Dragos Scripcariu
Department of Surgery, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Florin Amurariti
Department of Medical Oncology-Radiotherapy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Cipriana Stefanescu
Department of Biophysics and Medical Physics-Nuclear Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Cati Raluca Stolniceanu
Department of Biophysics and Medical Physics-Nuclear Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Maricel Agop
Physics Department, “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, Prof. Dr. Docent Dimitrie Mangeron Rd., No. 59A, 700050 Iaşi, Romania
Cristian Lungulescu
Department of Medical Oncology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
Cristian Constantin Volovat
Department of Radiology, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 University Str., 700115 Iaşi, Romania
Immunotherapy represents a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer, which functions via the reprogramming and activation of antitumor immunity. However, adverse events resulting from immunotherapy that are related to the low specificity of tumor cell-targeting represent a limitation of immunotherapy’s efficacy. The potential of nanotechnologies is represented by the possibilities of immunotherapeutical agents being carried by nanoparticles with various material types, shapes, sizes, coated ligands, associated loading methods, hydrophilicities, elasticities, and biocompatibilities. In this review, the principal types of nanovectors (nanopharmaceutics and bioinspired nanoparticles) are summarized along with the shortcomings in nanoparticle delivery and the main factors that modulate efficacy (the EPR effect, protein coronas, and microbiota). The mechanisms by which nanovectors can target cancer cells, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and the peripheral immune system are also presented. A possible mathematical model for the cellular communication mechanisms related to exosomes as nanocarriers is proposed.
