Back to Journals » International Journal of Nanomedicine » Volume 8 » Issue 1

Particle platforms for cancer immunotherapy

Authors Serda RE

Received 2 February 2013

Accepted for publication 18 March 2013

Published 29 April 2013 Volume 2013:8(1) Pages 1683—1696

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S31756

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Rita Elena Serda

Department of Nanomedicine, The Methodist Hospital Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract: Elevated understanding and respect for the relevance of the immune system in cancer development and therapy has led to increased development of immunotherapeutic regimens that target existing cancer cells and provide long-term immune surveillance and protection from cancer recurrence. This review discusses using particles as immune adjuvants to create vaccines and to augment the anticancer effects of conventional chemotherapeutics. Several particle prototypes are presented, including liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, and porous silicon microparticles, the latter existing as either single- or multiparticle platforms. The benefits of using particles include immune-cell targeting, codelivery of antigens and immunomodulatory agents, and sustained release of the therapeutic payload. Nanotherapeutic-based activation of the immune system is dependent on both intrinsic particle characteristics and on the immunomodulatory cargo, which may include danger signals known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns and cytokines for effector-cell activation.

Keywords: adjuvant, particle, immunotherapy, dendritic cell, cancer, vaccine

Creative Commons License © 2013 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.