FUNCTIONAL LIPID NANOSYSTEMS IN CANCER

• Physiological barriers in cancer: a challenge to be overcome
• Cancer chemotherapy, bioactive compounds, and immunotherapy
• General aspects of a multifunctional nanosystem
• Co-delivery of anticancer therapeutics via lipid-based nanoscale delivery systems
• Lipid-based nanocarriers for co-delivery of anticancer drugs and natural compounds
• Co-delivery of anticancer drug and adjuvant agents
• Hybrid nanosystems composed by lipid and polymer materials
• Lipid nanosystems: targeted nano-delivery of therapeutic agents in treatment of cancer
• Monoclonal antibody ligands for liposomes functionalization: immunoliposomes formulation and clinical status
• Active targeting for tumor microenvironment: integrin binding peptides
• Targeting liposomes to metastatic tumors with antibodies specific for VCAM-1
• Active targeting: mitochondrial targeting signal peptides
• Recent developments of light: triggered liposome nanosystems for cancer treatments
• Ultrasound-responsive nanosystems
• Lipid-based nanosystems for gene and drug co-delivery in cancer therapy
• The therapeutical window of light: modulating receptor proteins and metabolic pathways with light and its importance for disease control
• Magnetic lipid-based nanosystems for combined therapy of cancer

Cancer remains one of the most challenging issues in modern medicine, being responsible for a high number of deaths every year. Recent important developments in cancer diagnosis and therapy based on the versatility of nanosystems have made it possible to incorporate multifunctional synergistic actions into a single delivery system.

This book compiles the research on the use of functional lipid nanosystems that combine different strategies in one single nanosystem to enhance overall cancer treatment. Besides providing an overview of the current functional nanosystem strategies, it also offers researchers essential theoretical background on cancer, the physiological barriers to its treatment, aspects related to the design and optimization of nanocarriers for cancer treatment, and clinical developments, including promises, safety issues, and the expected future. The editors bring together a group of scientists from all over the world to discuss the most relevant issues and to provide updates on functional lipid nanosystems and cancer.

Authors
• Marlene Lúcio is a researcher and invited professor at the University of Minho, Portugal.
• Carla M. Lopes is an assistant professor at Fernando Pessoa University.
• Maria Elisabete C. D. Real Oliveira is associate professor with habilitation at the Physics Department of the University of Minho, Portugal.