Heparin based nanoparticles for cancer targeting and noninvasive imaging

[摘要] Numerous papers on heparin nanoparticles have been reported regarding targeting therapyand biomedical imaging. Here, we have summarized the prospects and opportunities of heparin as a carrierfor cancer targeting and imaging. First, we proposed heparin-anticancer drug conjugates showing higheranticancer activity than free drug. The conjugated heparin (heparin-deoxycholate sodium) retained itsability to bind with angiogenic factors, showing a significant decrease in endothelial tubular formation.Second, targeting ligands conjugated heparin derivatives have introduced for a receptor mediated deliveryof anticancer drug. Heparin-folic acid-retinoic acid (HFR) bioconjugates for treating cancer cells showed3 fold higher efficacy than heparin-retinoic acid (HR). Besides active and passive targeting drug delivery,several papers have been reported regarding delivery of imaging agents by heparin nanoparticles. Finally,this research highlight has covered imaging agents such as gold nanoparticles and quantum dots (QDs) fornoninvasive biomedical imaging. Very recently our group demonstrated that semiconductor QDs loadedheparin nanoparticles could also be administered through orally for noninvasive imaging. Due to promisingfeatures of heparin such as less toxic polysaccharide and easier modification, it was considered as a potentcarrier for imaging agent and drug delivery.

[学科分类] 外科医学