Table 1 Various applications of nanoparticles to combat cancer MDR

Efflux transporters

P-gp targeted siRNA and/or P-gp inhibitors

Bypass and/or inhibit efflux transporter

Polymeric NPs

[217,218,219,220]

Lipid NPs

[77, 221, 222]

Silicon NPs

[141, 223, 224]

Gold NPs

[133, 225,226,227]

Graphene oxide NPs

[228,229,230]

Hypoxia

HIF-1α siRNA

Silence HIF-1α gene

Lipid NPs

[231,232,233]

Micellar NPs

[149, 174, 234]

Polymeric NPs

[175, 235, 236]

HIF-1α inhibitors (PX-478)

Inhibit the function of HIF-1α

SPION NPs

[237, 238]

Silver NPs

[173, 239]

Cu2-xSe NPs

[240]

Apoptosis

Bcl-2-targeted siRNA

Inhibit anti-apoptotic pathway

SPION NPs

[241]

Mesoporous silica NPs

[204]

Polymeric NPs

[242,243,244]

NF-κB inhibitor

Activate pro-apoptotic pathway

Polymeric NPs

[156, 245, 246]

Cell cycle

Flavopiridol, siRNA and UCN-01

Inhibit CDK

Polymeric NPs

[247,248,249,250,251,252,253]

Metallic NPs

[254]

Detoxification system

Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO)

Inhibit GSH biosynthesis

Polymeric NPs

[255, 256]

Metal NPs

[257, 258]

Ethacrynic acid

Inhibit GST

Metal NPs

[259]

Polymeric NPs

[193, 260]