Proteolytic Enzymes and Cavitation as Strategies to Enhanced Penetration of Drug Nanocarriers

Abstract

The poor penetration of drug nanocarriers within tumor tissues is one of the most critical factors which limit their effectiveness. Nanomedicine has developed different strategies in order to overcome this important hurdle. Some of these strategies are based on the degradation of the highly dense extracellular matrix (ECM) which is usually present in many solid tumors. In this sense, one of the most promising approaches consists in the nanoparticle decoration with proteolytic enzymes able to digest the ECM favoring its penetration. Other strategy is based on the capacity of ultrasounds to induce cavitation which propels the nanocarriers to deep areas into the tumor. Both strategies have demonstrated significant improvement in the penetration of nanocarriers in malignant tissues, enhancing their effectivity.