Antibody-Based Targeting of Nanoplatforms for Cancer Theranostics

Over the last few years, nanotechnology has aided great progress in the management of different types of cancers. Nanotechnology has many merits, some of which include prolonged drug duration, targeted drug delivery and minimal dose-related adverse effects. Data suggest that developing nanomedicines that have the potential to elicit diagnostic and therapeutic properties (theranostics) in one-nanoparticle systems could have desirable outcomes in the field of cancer. Additionally, research into antibody-based targeting molecules has shown that these agents have clinical utility in cancer management. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown to be effective targeting molecules in this regard. Monoclonal antibodies can be conjugated to a number of chemotherapeutic agents, often by means of a reversible cross-linker. To protect the monoclonal antibodies that are conjugated to chemotherapeutic agents from elimination from the body, some studies have tried to encapsulate chemotherapeutic drugs into nanoparticles. This approach appears to maintain targeting efficacy and facilitates tumor cell uptake through endocytosis. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress in the employment of nanotechnology in cancer therapy, with special focus on antibody-targeted nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.