An updated review of folate-functionalized nanocarriers: A promising ligand in cancer
Open accessAbstract
The uncontrolled release of drugs in conventional drug delivery systems has led to the introduction of new nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems and the use of targeted nanocarriers for cancer treatment. These targeted nanocarriers, which consist of intelligent nanoparticles modified with targeting ligands, can deliver drugs to specified locations at the right time and reduce drug doses to prevent side effects. Folate is a suitable targeting ligand for folate receptors overexpressed on cancer cells and has shown promising results in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this review, we highlight the latest developments on the use of folate-conjugated nanoparticles in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, the toxicity, biocompatibility and efficacy of these nanocarriers are discussed.
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Folate receptors mediate cell uptake of folate/FA, anticipating DNA synthesis and nutrient provision.
“Folate receptors, high-affinity receptors, could mediate the cell uptake of folate or folic acid (FA), anticipating DNA synthesis and nutrient provision.”
From The blood–brain barrier: Structure, regulation and drug delivery (2023) · cites this paper as [185]
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The blood–brain barrier: Structure, regulation and drug delivery
Wu, D., Chen, Q., Chen, X., Han, F., Chen, Z., & Wang, Y. (2023) · Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy · doi:10.1038/s41392-023-01481-w · Cited by 1,906 · see citing works
“185 They are in relatively common use in the design of drug delivery systems.”
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- Authors
- Ebrahimnejad, P., Sodagar Taleghani, A., Asare-Addo, K., & Nokhodchi, A.
- Affiliations
- Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (IR)
- University of Sussex (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ebrahimnejad, Pedram
- Nokhodchi, Ali
- Venue
- Drug Discovery Today
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-02
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 471-489
- ISSN
- 1359-6446 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3211811594
- Cited by
- 133
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 11
- FWCI
- 1.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- pure.hud.ac.uk
- Licence
- Locations
- Drug Discovery Today (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Huddersfield Research Portal (University of Huddersfield) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Dendrimers and Hyperbranched Polymers
- Keywords
- folic acid, targeted drug delivery, folate receptor, cancer nanocarriers, cancer diagnosis, cancer therapy, biocompatibility, nanoparticle toxicity
- MeSH terms
- Drug Carriers, Folic Acid, Humans, Ligands, Neoplasms, Drug Delivery Systems, Nanoparticles
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