Table 2 Therapeutic Nanocarriers Delivery Agents for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Inorganic

Nanoshells

Sorafenib;

Doxorubicin;

Oxaliplatin

HepG2

Photothermal therapy;

Codelivery of drugs

Inhibit cell proliferation and minimize the resistance of HCC

Inorgnic Nanofibers

Doxorubicin

SMMC-7721, H22 tumor

Delivery of drugs

Provide good tumor-targeting activity;

Prolonged drug release with lower tumor cytotoxicity;

Prevent tumor recurrence

Graphene Oxide-Based Nanocarriers

Doxorubicin

Hepatoma cells

Delivery of drugs

Exhibit a cytotoxic effect on liver cancer cells

Calcium NPs

Sorafenib;

Doxorubicin;

Immunosuppressive agents;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2, HepG2/ADR,SMMC-7721,A549,BEL-7402

Delivery of drugs and genes

Enhance anticancer effect with lower cytotoxicity

Metal oxide NPs (Iron, Zinc, Alumina)

Sorafenib;

Doxorubicin;

Paclitaxel;

Therapeutic genes

Hep-2,HepG2,Hep3B,Hepa1-6,Huh-7,SMMC-7721

Membrane disruption/ROS production;

Delivery of drugs and genes;

Magnetic field induces lysosomal leakage;

Magnetic hyperthermia

Induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis of HCC cells;

Efficient tumor imaging

Silver NPs

–

HT29,HepG2

ROS formation/apoptosis induction;

Disruption of intercellular proteins;

Apoptosis through caspase expression

Induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells

Platinum NPs

–

HepG2

Release of Pt(II) ions

Enhance antitumor activity with fewer side effects

Gold NPs

Cisplatin;

Doxorubicin;

Capecitabine;

5-FU;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2 & resistant HepG2, HepG2-C3A, H22, HCC-LM3-fLuc, Huh-7, HepB3, HepB5, A549, MCF-7

Cationic cellular uptake/oxidative stress;

Cell uptake through peptide conjugation;

Gold atom-intercellular protein interaction;

c-Myc gene silencing by siRNA;

Delivery of 5-FU;

photothermal therapy;

Immunotherapy, conjugation with SM5-1;

Gold-protein interaction/Radiotherapy;

miR-375 replacement therapy

Effectively inhibit the growth and resistance of HCC cells;

Reduce toxicity systematically

Silica NPs

Doxorubicin;

Cetuximab;

Cisplatin;

Therapeutic genes

H22SMMC-7721

cell lines, HepG2, PLC,

BEL-7402, QGY7703

Delivery of drugs;

Suicide gene delivery and gene regulation;

Magnetic hyperthermia;

Photothermal therapy

Effective drug-releasing ability and efficient tumor-homing;

Better antitumor activity;

Reduce toxicity systematically

Selenium NPs

Doxorubicin;

Baicalin

Therapeutic genes

HegG2,HepG2215

Delivery of drugs and genes

Inhibit tumor growth;

Mitigate harmful effects from almost any drug at the delivery area

Janus NPs

Doxorubicin;

Docetaxel

HepG2,H22

Delivery of drugs;

Photothermal therapy

Effectively enhance tumor targeting and internalization in selective and safe chemotherapy for multidimensional HCC

theranostics

Magnetic Nanoclusters

Doxorubicin

HCC cell lines

Sustained drug loading and release;

In vivo MRI of intra-tumoral delivery

Significantly enhance liver cancer cell death

Superparamagnetic Iron-Oxide NPs (SPIONs)

Doxorubicin;

Curcumin

HCC cell lines,HepG2

Delivery of drugs and as therapeutics themselves;

Targeted MR imaging of HCC;

Magnetic hyperthermia

Effectively inhibit HCC cell growth

Organic

Chitin and chitosan-based NPs

Doxorubicin

HepG2,H22,LO2,HU7,SMMC-7721

Delivery of drugs;

mRNA apoptotic gene expression

Kill HCC cell lines;

Higher antitumor activity;

Stronger fluorescent intensity shown in tumor tissue

Polysaccharide NPs

Doxorubicin;

Paclitaxel

HepG2,H22,SMMC-7721

Delivery of drugs

Intrinsic liver targeting capability to incorporate multiple targeting and therapeutic approaches

Micelles

Sorafenib

Doxorubicin

HCC cell lines, HepG2

Provides specific targeted action against HCC

Good tumor growth inhibition and overall survival rate

Albumin NPs;

Peptide NPs

Doxorubicin;

Paclitaxel;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2,Huh7

Delivery of drugs and genes

Significantly enhance antitumor efficiency in HCC

Other polymer NPs

Doxorubicin;

10-hydroxycamptothecin;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2,Hep3B,Hepa-1.6,C3A,SK-HEP-1

Delivery of drugs and genes;

Photothermal therapy

Multi-functionality of DDS in specific antitumor therapy

Organic Nanofibers

Cisplatin;

Doxorubicin;

Therapeutic genes

HCC cell lines,EMT6

Delivery of drugs and genes

Provide good tumor-targeting

activity;

Significantly inhibit metastasis and tumor

growth of liver cancer cells;

Prevent tumor recurrence

Carbon Nanotubes

Doxorubicin

HCC cell lines,SMMC-7721,H22

Delivery of drugs;

Specific cancer imaging and selectivity of HCC;

Photothermal therapy

Kill HCC cell lines;

Repress liver cancer growth

Carbon Dots (CDs)

Doxorubicin

HepG2,HL-7702

Delivery of drugs;

Active anticancer effects through direct pyrolysis of an organic therapeutic;

Restrains migration for adjuvant

therapy;

Increased efficiency of radiotherapy

Multi-functionality of DDS in specific antitumor therapy

Liposomes

Cisplatin;

Sorafenib;

Doxorubicin;

5-FU;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2,H22

Delivery of drugs and genes

Longer imaging time and higher signal enhancement;

Good inhibition of cell growth

Lipid NPs;

Vesicle NPs

Sorafenib;

Doxorubicin;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7

Delivery of drugs and genes

Significantly enhanced antitumor effects Efficiency in HCC

Hydrogel NPs

Cisplatin;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2, Hep3B, H22

Delivery of drugs and genes

Efficient intracellular drug release and subsequent induction of tumor cell death

Dendrimer

Doxorubicin

HepG2

Enhance the uptake of drug;

Increases the cytotoxicity and anticancer effect

Better antitumor efficiency

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) NPs

Sorafenib;

Vandetanib

HepG2, BEL7402

Delivery of drugs

Capability of producing promising drug delivery

Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) NPs

Sorafenib;

Selumetinib;

Docetaxel

Brucine;

Therapeutic genes

HepG2,Hep3B, HCC1, SK-Hep1, JHH-7,BEL7402,SK-Hep1,HL-7702

Delivery of and genes

Increase drug loading capacity and biocompatibility;

Effectively suppress tumor cell proliferation;

Improve antitumor efficiency

Metal–organic frameworks (MOF) NPs

Dihydroartemisinin

HepG2,HCT116,MCF-7

Delivery of drugs

Enhanced antitumor efficiency in HCC with low cytotoxicity and side effects

Upconversion NPs

doxorubicin and hydroxycamptothecin(HCPT)

HepG2

Phothermal therapy;

codelivery of drugs

Multimodal antitumor function in reducing tumor volume to almost zero in vivo