Current status and recent progress of nanomaterials in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the construction of a liver cancer model using mice. Cancer cells are transferred to the body’s organs through the bloodstream. By injecting drug-loaded nanomaterials through the hepatic artery, the nanomaterials are targeted to the cancer cells and release the chemotherapeutic drugs. Chemotherapeutic drugs enter the vasculature with an enhanced permeability and retention effect.

Figure 2 Nanomaterials loaded with chemotherapeutic drugs use their targeting properties to enter into the tumour cells. They cleave and release the chemotherapeutic drugs to reach the nucleus, thus killing the tumour cells.

Figure 3 Nanoparticles are of various types and this paper focuses on a number of common classes and depicts their internal structure. MOFs: Metal-organic frameworks; LNPs: Lipid nanoparticles; MNPs: Metal nanoparticles; PEG: Poly-ethylene-glycol; SPIONs: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.