Multi-scale modeling of folic acid-functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles for active targeting of tumor cells.

ABSTRACT: Strategies based on the active targeting of tumor cells are emerging as smart and efficient nanomedical procedures. Folic acid (FA) is a vitamin and a well-established tumor targeting agent because of its strong affinity for the folate receptor (FR), which is an overexpressed protein on the cell membranes of the tumor cells. FA can be successfully anchored to several nanocarriers, including inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) based on transition metal oxides. Among them, TiO₂ is extremely interesting because of its excellent photoabsorption and photocatalytic properties, which can be exploited in photodynamic therapy. However, it is not yet clear in which respects direct anchoring of FA to the NP or the use of spacers, based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains, are different and wheth

SUBMITTER: Donadoni E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9404434 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature