Micelle-engineered nanoplatforms for precision oncology

The introduction of nanomaterials to the cancer field has resulted in improvements in the treatment of tumor patients. After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is the leading cause of death, and interdisciplinary approaches should be used for the treatment of this malignant disease. Both treatment and early diagnosis of cancer are challenging. The micelles belong to lipid-based nanostructures, and they have a hydrophobic core with hydrophilic head regions. The current review article focuses on the application of micelles in cancer suppression. The micelles can provide a platform for co-delivery of non-coding RNAs and RNAi in cancer gene therapy. Both synthetic and natural compounds with anti-tumor activity can be delivered by micelles. Besides, the co-delivery of drugs and genes mediates synergistic cancer therapy. Various kinds of smart micelles, including pH-, light-, redox- and multi-sensitive micellar nanostructures, can provide targeted cancer treatment. The modification of micelles with ligands such as hyaluronic acid and aptamers can enhance the selectivity of nanostructures toward tumor cells. The micelles can also be employed for cancer diagnosis. The combination of micelles with other nanostructures, such as polymeric nanoparticles, is utilized to improve potential in cancer treatment. The studies demonstrate the high biocompatibility and safety profile of micelles. The green modification and synthesis of micelles can enhance their biocompatibility. Therefore, micelles can be utilized in the near future for the treatment and diagnosis of cancer patients.