Autophagy targeted nanomedicines and nanotheranostics in cancer imaging and therapy

Abstract

Lysosomal self-degradation is an integral part of autophagy's protective function, which involves maintaining the intracellular environment. Several disorders are associated with dysregulated autophagy, such as cancer, infections, neurodegeneration, aging, and cardiovascular disease. Autophagy, comprising apoptosis, has been the focus of cancer treatment efforts. The targeting of autophagy, which serves dual purposes in malignancies, requires further clarification. The nanomedicines are unique platforms for autophagy targeting. Nanomedicines that deliver autophagy regulators along with chemotherapeutic drugs can help build up cancer cells inside the cells and treat cancer more effectively. Enhancing oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy can help to reduce cancer growth. Autophagy-mediated nanotheranostics is a revolutionary cancer treatment and imaging approach. These nanosystems harness autophagy to transport and target therapeutic drugs with various contrast agents to tumor cells using micelles, liposomes, iron oxide, polysaccharide-based systems, etc. These platforms maximize the targeted distribution of autophagy modulators to cancer cells while limiting their off-target effects on healthy tissues through the utilization of nanotechnology. Thus, autophagy-targeted nanomedicines and nanotheranostics herald a new era in cancer management. In this review, we have explained the therapeutically targetable process for autophagy. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of autophagy-mediated nanomedicine and nanotheranostics for cancer imaging and therapy. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.