Nanoparticles Interaction with Cancer Cells
Muhammad Hussnain Siddique, Eisha Javed, Farrukh Azeem, Ijaz Rasul, Saima Muzammil, Sumreen Hayat, Muhammad Afzal, Hamna Maqsood, Muhammad Zubair
Cancer, a formidable global health concern, is characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, infiltrative potential, and the ominous threat of metastasis. Diverse treatment approaches, from surgery to immunotherapy, aim to combat this relentless disease. Despite progress, the growing incidence of cancer demands innovative approaches. Nanotechnology has revolutionized cancer therapy, enhancing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted treatments. Nanomaterials, defined by key attributes, offer early detection and advanced treatment methods. Engineered nanoparticles deliver precision therapy, triggering cell death or transporting therapeutic agents. Magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, polymeric micelles, and liposomes have found unique biological applications. In this chapter the interaction between nanoparticles and cancer cells, their distribution within the body, and impact on the tumor microenvironment are explored. Furthermore, the chapter addresses the challenges and prospects of this promising approach, underscoring its potential to reshape the future of cancer therapy.
Keywords
Cancer, Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials, Targeted Therapy, Tumor Microenvironment, Nanoparticles Uptake, Intracellular Fate of Nanoparticles
Published online 1/5/2026, 20 pages
Citation: Muhammad Hussnain Siddique, Eisha Javed, Farrukh Azeem, Ijaz Rasul, Saima Muzammil, Sumreen Hayat, Muhammad Afzal, Hamna Maqsood, Muhammad Zubair, Nanoparticles Interaction with Cancer Cells, Materials Research Foundations, Vol. 185, pp 92-111, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903858-5
Part of the book on Nanomaterials in Biological Systems
References
[1] K.A. Oien, Pathologic Evaluation of Unknown Primary Cancer, Semin. Oncol. 36 (2009) 8–37. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminoncol.2008.10.009
[2] P.S. Roy, B.J. Saikia, Cancer and cure: A critical analysis, Indian J. Cancer. 53 (2016) 441–442. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-509X.200658
[3] O. Adir, M. Poley, G. Chen, S. Froim, N. Krinsky, J. Shklover, J. Shainsky-Roitman, T. Lammers, A. Schroeder, Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology for Precision Cancer Medicine, Adv. Mater. 32 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201901989
[4] M.M. Rahman, M.R. Islam, S. Akash, M. Harun-Or-Rashid, T.K. Ray, M.S. Rahaman, M. Islam, F. Anika, M.K. Hosain, F.I. Aovi, H.A. Hemeg, A. Rauf, P. Wilairatana, Recent advancements of nanoparticles application in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders: At a glance, Biomed. Pharmacother. 153 (2022) 113305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113305
[5] J.N. Cruz, S. Muzammil, A. Ashraf, M.U. Ijaz, M.H. Siddique, R. Abbas, M. Sadia, Saba, S. Hayat, R.R. Lima, A review on mycogenic metallic nanoparticles and their potential role as antioxidant, antibiofilm and quorum quenching agents, Heliyon. 10 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29500
[6] A.L.B. de Barros, A. Tsourkas, B. Saboury, V.N. Cardoso, A. Alavi, Emerging role of radiolabeled nanoparticles as an effective diagnostic technique, EJNMMI Res. 2 (2012) 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/2191-219X-2-39
[7] C. Negin, S. Ali, Q. Xie, Application of nanotechnology for enhancing oil recovery – A review, Petroleum. 2 (2016) 324–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petlm.2016.10.002
[8] A. Ike Onyia, H. Ifeanyi Ikeri, A. Iheanyichukwu Chima, Surface and Quantum Effects in Nanosized Semiconductor, Am. J. Nano Res. Appl. 8 (2020) 35. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.nano.20200803.11
[9] E.C. Cho, C. Glaus, J. Chen, M.J. Welch, Y. Xia, Inorganic nanoparticle-based contrast agents for molecular imaging, Trends Mol. Med. 16 (2010) 561–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2010.09.004
[10] Nanoparticles, Nanostructure Sci. Technol. (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9042-6
[11] M.H. Al-Saleh, U. Sundararaj, Review of the mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber/polymer composites, Compos. Part A Appl. Sci. Manuf. 42 (2011) 2126–2142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2011.08.005
[12] O. Veiseh, J.W. Gunn, M. Zhang, Design and fabrication of magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and imaging, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 62 (2010) 284–304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2009.11.002
[13] T. Sun, Y.S. Zhang, B. Pang, D.C. Hyun, M. Yang, Y. Xia, Engineered nanoparticles for drug delivery in cancer therapy, Angew. Chemie – Int. Ed. 53 (2014) 12320–12364. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201403036
[14] Y. Dai, C. Xu, X. Sun, X. Chen, Nanoparticle design strategies for enhanced anticancer therapy by exploiting the tumour microenvironment, Chem. Soc. Rev. 46 (2017) 3830–3852. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6cs00592f
[15] S. Fathi-karkan, R. Arshad, A. Rahdar, A. Ramezani, R. Behzadmehr, S. Ghotekar, S. Pandey, Recent advancements in the targeted delivery of etoposide nanomedicine for cancer therapy: A comprehensive review, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 259 (2023) 115676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115676
[16] A. Aghebati-Maleki, S. Dolati, M. Ahmadi, A. Baghbanzhadeh, M. Asadi, A. Fotouhi, M. Yousefi, L. Aghebati-Maleki, Nanoparticles and cancer therapy: Perspectives for application of nanoparticles in the treatment of cancers, J. Cell. Physiol. 235 (2020) 1962–1972. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.29126
[17] S. Parveen, S.K. Sahoo, Polymeric nanoparticles for cancer therapy, J. Drug Target. 16 (2008) 108–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/10611860701794353
[18] A. Pugazhendhi, T.N.J.I. Edison, I. Karuppusamy, B. Kathirvel, Inorganic nanoparticles: A potential cancer therapy for human welfare, Int. J. Pharm. 539 (2018) 104–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.01.034
[19] F.S. Alves, J.N. Cruz, I.N. de Farias Ramos, D.L. do Nascimento Brandão, R.N. Queiroz, G.V. da Silva, G.V. da Silva, M.F. Dolabela, M.L. da Costa, A.S. Khayat, J. de Arimatéia Rodrigues do Rego, D. do Socorro Barros Brasil, Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity and Cytotoxicity Effects of Extracts of Piper nigrum L. and Piperine, Separations. 10 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/separations10010021
[20] D. MubarakAli, H. Kim, P.S. Venkatesh, J.W. Kim, S.Y. Lee, A Systemic Review on the Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Palladium Nanoparticles in Biomedicine, Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol. 195 (2023) 3699–3718. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-022-03840-9
[21] M.P. Vinardell, M. Mitjans, Antitumor activities of metal oxide nanoparticles, Nanomaterials. 5 (2015) 1004–1021. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano5021004
[22] I.N. de F. Ramos, M.F. da Silva, J.M.S. Lopes, J.N. Cruz, F.S. Alves, J. de A.R. do Rego, M.L. da Costa, P.P. de Assumpção, D. do S. Barros Brasil, A.S. Khayat, Extraction, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Cytotoxic Activity of Piperine in Its Isolated form and in Combination with Chemotherapeutics against Gastric Cancer, Molecules. 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145587
[23] L. Li, H. Liu, Biodegradable inorganic nanoparticles: An opportunity for improved cancer therapy?, Nanomedicine. 12 (2017) 959–961. https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2017-0057
[24] C.E. Probst, P. Zrazhevskiy, V. Bagalkot, X. Gao, Quantum dots as a platform for nanoparticle drug delivery vehicle design, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 65 (2013) 703–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2012.09.036
[25] D. Hanahan, Hallmarks of Cancer: New Dimensions, Cancer Discov. 12 (2022) 31–46. https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-21-1059
[26] A. Turdo, V. Veschi, M. Gaggianesi, A. Chinnici, P. Bianca, M. Todaro, G. Stassi, Meeting the challenge of targeting cancer stem cells, Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 7 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2019.00016
[27] S.S. Linton, S.G. Sherwood, K.C. Drews, M. Kester, Targeting cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment: Opportunities and challenges in combinatorial nanomedicine, Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Nanomedicine Nanobiotechnology. 8 (2016) 208–222. https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1358
[28] M.H. Sarfraz, M. Zubair, B. Aslam, A. Ashraf, M.H. Siddique, S. Hayat, J.N. Cruz, S. Muzammil, M. Khurshid, M.F. Sarfraz, A. Hashem, T.M. Dawoud, G.D. Avila-Quezada, E.F. Abd_Allah, Comparative analysis of phyto-fabricated chitosan, copper oxide, and chitosan-based CuO nanoparticles: antibacterial potential against Acinetobacter baumannii isolates and anticancer activity against HepG2 cell lines, Front. Microbiol. 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1188743
[29] J. Zugazagoitia, C. Guedes, S. Ponce, I. Ferrer, S. Molina-Pinelo, L. Paz-Ares, Current Challenges in Cancer Treatment, Clin. Ther. 38 (2016) 1551–1566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinthera.2016.03.026
[30] A. Agliano, A. Calvo, C. Box, The challenge of targeting cancer stem cells to halt metastasis, Semin. Cancer Biol. 44 (2017) 25–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.03.003
[31] K. Kettler, K. Veltman, D. van de Meent, A. van Wezel, A.J. Hendriks, Cellular uptake of nanoparticles as determined by particle properties, experimental conditions, and cell type, Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 33 (2014) 481–492. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.2470
[32] M. Wang, M. Thanou, Targeting nanoparticles to cancer, Pharmacol. Res. 62 (2010) 90–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2010.03.005
[33] J.J. Xu, W.C. Zhang, Y.W. Guo, X.Y. Chen, Y.N. Zhang, Metal nanoparticles as a promising technology in targeted cancer treatment, Drug Deliv. 29 (2022) 664–678. https://doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2022.2039804
[34] Neha Desai, M. Momin, T. Khan, S. Gharat, R.S. Ningthoujam, A. Omri, Metallic nanoparticles as drug delivery system for the treatment of cancer, Expert Opin. Drug Deliv. 18 (2021) 1261–1290. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425247.2021.1912008
[35] P.K. Mishra, H. Mishra, A. Ekielski, S. Talegaonkar, B. Vaidya, Zinc oxide nanoparticles: a promising nanomaterial for biomedical applications, Drug Discov. Today. 22 (2017) 1825–1834. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2017.08.006
[36] M.G. Vander Heiden, Targeting cancer metabolism: A therapeutic window opens, Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 10 (2011) 671–684. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3504
[37] K. Seidi, H.A. Neubauer, R. Moriggl, R. Jahanban-Esfahlan, T. Javaheri, Tumor target amplification: Implications for nano drug delivery systems, J. Control. Release. 275 (2018) 142–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2018.02.020
[38] N. Hinge, M.M. Pandey, G. Singhvi, G. Gupta, M. Mehta, S. Satija, M. Gulati, H. Dureja, K. Dua, Nanomedicine advances in cancer therapy, Adv. 3D-Printed Syst. Nanosyst. Drug Deliv. Tissue Eng. (2020) 219–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-818471-4.00008-X
[39] M. Xu, X. Han, H. Xiong, Y. Gao, B. Xu, G. Zhu, J. Li, Cancer Nanomedicine: Emerging Strategies and Therapeutic Potentials, Molecules. 28 (2023) 5145. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28135145
[40] J. Liu, J.F. Yan, Z.S. Deng, Nano-cryosurgery: A basic way to enhance freezing treatment of tumor, ASME Int. Mech. Eng. Congr. Expo. Proc. 2 (2007) 87–94. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2007-43916
[41] Y. Hou, Z. Sun, W. Rao, J. Liu, Nanoparticle-mediated cryosurgery for tumor therapy, Nanomedicine Nanotechnology, Biol. Med. 14 (2018) 493–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2017.11.018
[42] A. Aderem, D.M. Underhill, Mechanisms of phagocytosis in macrophages, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 17 (1999) 593–623. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.immunol.17.1.593
[43] S. Xiang, H. Tong, Q. Shi, J.C. Fernandes, T. Jin, K. Dai, X. Zhang, Uptake mechanisms of non-viral gene delivery, J. Control. Release. 158 (2012) 371–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.09.093
[44] T.J. Pucadyil, S.L. Schmid, Conserved functions of membrane active GTPases in coated vesicle formation, Science (80-. ). 325 (2009) 1217–1220. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1171004
[45] A. Benmerah, C. Lamaze, Clathrin-coated pits: Vive la différence?, Traffic. 8 (2007) 970–982. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00585.x
[46] L.K. Medina-Kauwe, “Alternative” endocytic mechanisms exploited by pathogens: New avenues for therapeutic delivery?, Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 59 (2007) 798–809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2007.06.009
[47] R.G. Parton, K. Simons, The multiple faces of caveolae, Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 8 (2007) 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm2122
[48] I.A. Khalil, K. Kogure, H. Akita, H. Harashima, Uptake pathways and subsequent intracellular trafficking in nonviral gene delivery, Pharmacol. Rev. 58 (2006) 32–45. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.58.1.8
[49] L. Pelkmans, D. Püntener, A. Helenius, Local actin polymerization and dynamin recruitment in SV40-induced internalization of caveolae, Science (80-. ). 296 (2002) 535–539. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1069784
[50] J. Mercer, A. Helenius, Virus entry by macropinocytosis, Nat. Cell Biol. 11 (2009) 510–520. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb0509-510
[51] S. Muzammil, J. Neves Cruz, R. Mumtaz, I. Rasul, S. Hayat, M.A. Khan, A.M. Khan, M.U. Ijaz, R.R. Lima, M. Zubair, Effects of Drying Temperature and Solvents on In Vitro Diabetic Wound Healing Potential of Moringa oleifera Leaf Extracts, Molecules. 28 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28020710
[52] N. Shadmani, K.H. Kahkesh, Fabrication of Biomimetic Cell Membrane-Functionalized Nanosystems, ACS Symp. Ser. 1464 (2024) 31–56. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2024-1464.ch003
[53] M. Liu, R.C. Anderson, X. Lan, P.S. Conti, K. Chen, Recent advances in the development of nanoparticles for multimodality imaging and therapy of cancer, Med. Res. Rev. 40 (2020) 909–930. https://doi.org/10.1002/med.21642
[54] M.R. Sheen, P.H. Lizotte, S. Toraya-Brown, S. Fiering, Stimulating antitumor immunity with nanoparticles, Wiley Interdiscip. Rev. Nanomedicine Nanobiotechnology. 6 (2014) 496–505. https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1274
[55] N. Naseri, E. Ajorlou, F. Asghari, Y. Pilehvar-Soltanahmadi, An update on nanoparticle-based contrast agents in medical imaging, Artif. Cells, Nanomedicine Biotechnol. 46 (2018) 1111–1121. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2017.1379014
[56] S. Gavas, S. Quazi, T.M. Karpiński, Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Current Progress and Challenges, Nanoscale Res. Lett. 16 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-021-03628-6
[57] M.R. Mohammadi, C. Corbo, R. Molinaro, J.R.T. Lakey, Biohybrid Nanoparticles to Negotiate with Biological Barriers, Small. 15 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201902333
[58] K.P. Das, J. Chandra, Nanoparticles and convergence of artificial intelligence for targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy: Current progress and challenges, Front. Med. Technol. 4 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmedt.2022.1067144
[59] B. Kumari, A. Hora, M.A. Mallick, Nanomedicines in Cancer Research: An Overview, LS Int. J. Life Sci. 6 (2017) 11. https://doi.org/10.5958/2319-1198.2017.00002.1
[60] S. Karaosmanoglu, M. Zhou, B. Shi, X. Zhang, G.R. Williams, X. Chen, Carrier-free nanodrugs for safe and effective cancer treatment, J. Control. Release. 329 (2021) 805–832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.10.014
[61] J. Iqbal, B.A. Abbasi, R. Ahmad, T. Mahmood, B. Ali, A.T. Khalil, S. Kanwal, S.A. Shah, M.M. Alam, H. Badshah, A. Munir, Nanomedicines for developing cancer nanotherapeutics: from benchtop to bedside and beyond, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 102 (2018) 9449–9470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-018-9352-3


