Advances in nanotechnology have produced a range of strategies for cancer treatment. Among the materials under investigation, Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) are attractive candidates for immunotherapy because of their distinctive physicochemical properties and biocompatibility.
This narrative review draws on studies retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science between 2020 and 2025 and describes the mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and clinical development of AuNPs.
AuNPs enhance immune responses by delivering antigens to dendritic cells and T cells and by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Their photothermal and photodynamic properties damage tumors while activating immunity. Surface modification reduces systemic toxicity, and PEGylation and ligand conjugation improve targeting. Preclinical and early clinical studies indicate that AuNPs can enhance tumor regression and improve treatment response.
AuNPs can serve in drug delivery, immune modulation, and photothermal therapy. Although the results are promising, challenges remain in large-scale synthesis, long-term safety, and regulatory approval. Addressing these factors is essential for successful clinical translation.
Gold nanoparticles represent a promising development in cancer immunotherapy, combining targeted delivery, immune activation, and photothermal effects. Continued optimization and safety evaluation will be essential if AuNPs are to become integral to next-generation personalized cancer treatment. Unlike previous reviews, this work provides a systems-level framework for AuNP-based cancer immunotherapy by integrating mechanistic data, translational bottlenecks, and quantitative comparisons between synthesis methods and nanocarrier systems.
V. R. Jallepalli, Angum M. M. Ibrahim, Anasuya Patil et al.· Current Nanomedicine· 0 citations
Background: Oral administration of sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis is associated with limitations that reduce therapeutic effectiveness. Transdermal delivery using ethosomal vesicles offers a promising strategy to enhance skin penetration and provide localized therapeutic effects. Methodology: Sulfasalazine-loaded ethosomes were formulated using the cold method and optimized using a 3² full factorial design across nine experimental trials. The formulations were characterized for vesicle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, and morphology using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The optimized ethosomal formulation was incorporated into a 1% Carbopol 934 gel to prepare the ethosomal gel (EGL). Ex vivo permeation studies were performed using rat skin to compare EGL with a conventional gel (CGL), and flux and permeability coefficients were calculated. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in Sprague–Dawley rats. Results and Discussion: Particle sizes ranged from 98.3 ± 2.37 nm to 187.7 ± 3.12 nm, with a negative zeta potential ranging between –24.2 ± 2.56 mV and –32.6 ± 1.35 mV. The entrapment efficiency ranged from 85.33 ± 3.84% to 94.62 ± 1.34%. Vesicles displayed smooth and spherical surfaces. In vitro drug release studies of the ethosomal gel formulations lasted 12 hours, revealing controlled release of sulfasalazine and enhanced ex vivo permeation in the optimized formulation. In vivo studies showed that EGL produced a greater reduction in inflammation compared to CGL. Conclusion: The developed ethosomal gel demonstrated enhanced skin permeation and anti-inflammatory efficacy, making it a promising transdermal delivery system for sulfasalazine in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
