The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review

Cancer is a major global health problem that poses significant challenges. Conventional cancer therapies often have severe side effects, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches that are more effective and less toxic. The utilization of plant viral nanoparticles is one of the mo...

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Main Authors: Mamorake Donty Komane, Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo, Daria Anna Rutkowska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/218
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author Mamorake Donty Komane
Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo
Daria Anna Rutkowska
author_facet Mamorake Donty Komane
Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo
Daria Anna Rutkowska
author_sort Mamorake Donty Komane
collection DOAJ
description Cancer is a major global health problem that poses significant challenges. Conventional cancer therapies often have severe side effects, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches that are more effective and less toxic. The utilization of plant viral nanoparticles is one of the more promising strategies for cancer biotherapy. Plant viral nanoparticles exhibit advantageous properties, including safety, high stability, rapid production and scalability, biocompatibility and biodegradability, structural uniformity, inherent immunogenicity, ease of modification and high update efficacy as well as lower cost implications, making them attractive vehicles for health applications. Various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of plant viral nanoparticles in targeted therapeutic drug/molecule delivery, tumor imaging and immunotherapy, highlighting their potential as a versatile platform for cancer biotherapy. The drawbacks of plant viral nanoparticles include their perceived ability to induce a hypersensitive/allergic immune response, non-well-defined regulatory approval processes as well as the reluctance of pharmaceutical companies to adapt their manufacturing processes to facilitate plant-based expression. This review discusses applications of plant virus-derived nanoparticles in cancer therapeutics and prospects for translating these findings into clinical practice.
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spelling doaj-art-68c7d7ec9b754b33b06ca065bafee70d2025-08-20T02:45:42ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-02-0117221810.3390/v17020218The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A ReviewMamorake Donty Komane0Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo1Daria Anna Rutkowska2Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Private Bag X6 Florida 1710, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaDepartment of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Private Bag X6 Florida 1710, Pretoria 0002, South AfricaAdvanced Agriculture and Food Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South AfricaCancer is a major global health problem that poses significant challenges. Conventional cancer therapies often have severe side effects, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches that are more effective and less toxic. The utilization of plant viral nanoparticles is one of the more promising strategies for cancer biotherapy. Plant viral nanoparticles exhibit advantageous properties, including safety, high stability, rapid production and scalability, biocompatibility and biodegradability, structural uniformity, inherent immunogenicity, ease of modification and high update efficacy as well as lower cost implications, making them attractive vehicles for health applications. Various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of plant viral nanoparticles in targeted therapeutic drug/molecule delivery, tumor imaging and immunotherapy, highlighting their potential as a versatile platform for cancer biotherapy. The drawbacks of plant viral nanoparticles include their perceived ability to induce a hypersensitive/allergic immune response, non-well-defined regulatory approval processes as well as the reluctance of pharmaceutical companies to adapt their manufacturing processes to facilitate plant-based expression. This review discusses applications of plant virus-derived nanoparticles in cancer therapeutics and prospects for translating these findings into clinical practice.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/218plant viral nanoparticlescancer biotherapydrug deliveryvirus-like particlescancer vaccinestumor targeting
spellingShingle Mamorake Donty Komane
Prudence Ngalula Kayoka-Kabongo
Daria Anna Rutkowska
The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
Viruses
plant viral nanoparticles
cancer biotherapy
drug delivery
virus-like particles
cancer vaccines
tumor targeting
title The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
title_full The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
title_fullStr The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
title_full_unstemmed The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
title_short The Use of Plant Viral Nanoparticles in Cancer Biotherapy—A Review
title_sort use of plant viral nanoparticles in cancer biotherapy a review
topic plant viral nanoparticles
cancer biotherapy
drug delivery
virus-like particles
cancer vaccines
tumor targeting
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/2/218
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