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Peptides as Targeting Elements and Tissue Penetration Devices for Nanoparticles
Author(s) -
Ruoslahti Erkki
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201200454
Subject(s) - nanomedicine , nanoparticle , nanotechnology , materials science , homing (biology) , drug delivery , regenerative medicine , biomedical engineering , cell , medicine , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , ecology
The use of nanoparticles in medicine (nanomedicine) has recently become an intensely studied field. Nanoparticles carrying drugs and imaging agents have already reached the clinic, but they are essentially passive delivery vehicles, not what are referred to as “smart” nanoparticles. An important function to add to make nanoparticles smarter is active homing to the target tissue. It makes nanoparticles accumulate in the target tissue at higher concentrations than would be the case without this feature, increasing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects. This review discusses the recent developments in the nanoparticle targeting field with emphasis on peptides that home to vascular “zip codes” in target tissues and provide a tissue‐ and cell‐penetrating function.