Safety Considerations of Cancer Nanomedicine-A Key Step toward Translation

Small. 2020 Sep;16(36):e2000673. doi: 10.1002/smll.202000673. Epub 2020 May 14.

Abstract

The rate of translational effort of nanomedicine requires strategic planning of nanosafety research in order to enable clinical trials and safe use of nanomedicine in patients. Herein, the experiences that have emerged based on the safety data of classic liposomal formulations in the space of oncology are discussed, along with a description of the new challenges that need to be addressed according to the rapid expansion of nanomedicine platform beyond liposomes. It is valuable to consider the combined use of predictive toxicological assessment supported by deliberate investigation on aspects such as absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and toxicokinetic profiles, the risk that may be introduced during nanomanufacture, unique nanomaterials properties, and nonobvious nanosafety endpoints, for example. These efforts will allow the generation of investigational new drug-enabling safety data that can be incorporated into a rational infrastructure for regulatory decision-making. Since the safety assessment relates to nanomaterials, the investigation should cover the important physicochemical properties of the material that may lead to hazards when the nanomedicine product is utilized in humans.

Keywords: clinical trials; nano safety; safe-by-design; translational nanomedicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Drug and Narcotic Control
  • Humans
  • Nanomedicine* / standards
  • Nanostructures / toxicity
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Toxicology* / methods
  • Toxicology* / standards
  • Toxicology* / trends

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents