Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance

A notable increase in cancer-related fatalities and morbidity worldwide is attributed to drug resistance. The factors contributing to drug resistance include drug efflux via ABC transporters, apoptosis evasion, epigenetic alterations, DNA repair mechanisms, and the tumor microenvironment, among othe...

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Main Authors: Shazia Sabir, Ali Salman Bin Thani, Qamar Abbas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1548588/full
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author Shazia Sabir
Ali Salman Bin Thani
Qamar Abbas
author_facet Shazia Sabir
Ali Salman Bin Thani
Qamar Abbas
author_sort Shazia Sabir
collection DOAJ
description A notable increase in cancer-related fatalities and morbidity worldwide is attributed to drug resistance. The factors contributing to drug resistance include drug efflux via ABC transporters, apoptosis evasion, epigenetic alterations, DNA repair mechanisms, and the tumor microenvironment, among others. Systemic toxicities and resistance associated with conventional cancer diagnostics and therapies have led to the development of alternative approaches, such as nanotechnology, to enhance diagnostic precision and improve therapeutic outcomes. Nanomaterial, including carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, and liposomes, have shown significant benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, enhanced permeability, retention characteristics, and targeted delivery. Building on these advantages, this review is conducted through comprehensive analysis of recent literature to explore the principal mechanisms of drug resistance, the potential of nanomaterials to revolutionize selective drug delivery and cancer treatment. Additionally, the strategies employed by nanomaterials to overcome drug resistance in tumors, such as efflux pump inhibition, multidrug loading, targeted delivery to the tumor microenvironment, and gene silencing therapies are discussed in detail. Furthermore, we examine the challenges associated with nanomaterials that limit their application and impede their transition to clinical use.
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spelling doaj-art-c6aa380f2ef246b096baac7d06ab30cf2025-08-20T03:53:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-04-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15485881548588Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistanceShazia SabirAli Salman Bin ThaniQamar AbbasA notable increase in cancer-related fatalities and morbidity worldwide is attributed to drug resistance. The factors contributing to drug resistance include drug efflux via ABC transporters, apoptosis evasion, epigenetic alterations, DNA repair mechanisms, and the tumor microenvironment, among others. Systemic toxicities and resistance associated with conventional cancer diagnostics and therapies have led to the development of alternative approaches, such as nanotechnology, to enhance diagnostic precision and improve therapeutic outcomes. Nanomaterial, including carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, and liposomes, have shown significant benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, enhanced permeability, retention characteristics, and targeted delivery. Building on these advantages, this review is conducted through comprehensive analysis of recent literature to explore the principal mechanisms of drug resistance, the potential of nanomaterials to revolutionize selective drug delivery and cancer treatment. Additionally, the strategies employed by nanomaterials to overcome drug resistance in tumors, such as efflux pump inhibition, multidrug loading, targeted delivery to the tumor microenvironment, and gene silencing therapies are discussed in detail. Furthermore, we examine the challenges associated with nanomaterials that limit their application and impede their transition to clinical use.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1548588/fullnanoparticlesnanomaterialsdrug deliverytargeted strategiesnanotechnologycancer
spellingShingle Shazia Sabir
Ali Salman Bin Thani
Qamar Abbas
Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
nanoparticles
nanomaterials
drug delivery
targeted strategies
nanotechnology
cancer
title Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
title_full Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
title_fullStr Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
title_full_unstemmed Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
title_short Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
title_sort nanotechnology in cancer treatment revolutionizing strategies against drug resistance
topic nanoparticles
nanomaterials
drug delivery
targeted strategies
nanotechnology
cancer
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1548588/full
work_keys_str_mv AT shaziasabir nanotechnologyincancertreatmentrevolutionizingstrategiesagainstdrugresistance
AT alisalmanbinthani nanotechnologyincancertreatmentrevolutionizingstrategiesagainstdrugresistance
AT qamarabbas nanotechnologyincancertreatmentrevolutionizingstrategiesagainstdrugresistance